COPYRIGHT,    IQiy,   BY   PERCY   MACKAYE 
ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED 

Published  March  IQI? 


mm 

Ttie-SHILOR 

THE 
MUSIC  FOR 

THIS 

PHANTASY 
HAS  BEEN 
COMPOSED 

BY 

'FREDERICK  S.  ' 
CONVERSE      m 


THE 
DESIGNS  FOR 

THIS 

VOLUME 

HAVE  BEEN 

MADE   BY 

JOSEPH 

URBAN 


86134G 


CHARACTERS 

OF  THE    PRELUDE 

A  Charcoal-Burner 
His  Daughter 

OF  THE   PHANTASY 

SINBAD  THE  SAILOR 
BEAST 


CASCHEASCH,  A  Genie 

BOUL  HABOUL,  Captain  of  the  Thieves 

BEAUTY 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 
THE  STATELY  LADY 
Courtiers  and  Ladies  of  the  Enchanted  Court, 
The  Forty  Thieves,  etc. 


SCENES 

PRELUDE  In  the  deep  mid-winter  woods.   (No  curtain 

falls.) 

ACT  FIRST:         In  the  Garden  of  the  Singing  Rose-Tree. 
Toward  evening. 

ACT  SECOND  :   In  the  Castle  of  the  Chiming  Clock i  Even 
ing  to  midnight. 

ACT  THIRD  :       The  Same :  After  midnight  till  sunrise. 


PRELUDE 

AND 

ACT  FIRST 


Sinbad  the  Sailor 
PRELUDE 

In  the  deep  forest  it  is  snowing  bard. 

Through  bare,  frozen  boughs  the  wind  blows,  dreary  and 
wild. 

Night  is  drawing  on,  and  the  spaces  between  the  great 
trees  are  filled  with  dimness  and  the  gray,  driving  storm. 

Struck  by  its  cold  fury,  a  thorn-tree  crouches  in  the  deep  snow. 

It  is  old  and  stunted :  at  its  heart  the  trunk  is  barkless  and 
snapped  off  flat.  About  this  tall  stump  scraggy  boughs,  with 
prickly  leaves,  writhe  mournfully  in  the  blast. 

Not  far  from  the  thorn-bush,  a  black  Figure,  bent  over, 
comes  plodding  with  slow,  painful  steps.  It  is  a  poor  CHAR 
COAL-BURNER,  blackened  by  his  trade.  He  is  wrapped  in  a 
threadbare  mantle.  With  one  hand  he  leans  on  a  rude  staff", 
to  which  is  tied  a  little  bundle  ;  with  his  other  arm  he  sup 
ports  the  ragged  form  of  a  YOUNG  GIRL. 

For  a  moment  they  struggle  silently  against  the  storm. 

THE  CHARCOAL-BURNER 

>EAR  God,  dear  God !  Our  way  is  lost :  lead  us  home ! 
For  the  night  comes  down. 

She  is  ill,  my  own  poor  child :  she  will  die.  The  mouths 
Of  the  biting  storm 

And  the  beasts  of  dark  will  devour  us.  Help !  Show  us 
the  way 


4  SINE  AD    THE   SAILOR 

To  a  warm  home-fire. 

In  this  bitter  wood 

Is  nothing  but  fear  and  pain  and  weariness ! 

THE   YOUNG  GIRL 

Father  dear,  have  you  forgot 
All  our  stories  true  and  old  ? 
Always  you  have  told  me  how 
In  the  wood  where  Beauty  went 
Snow  and  ice  and  darkness  turned 
To  a  garden,  glad  with  flowers. 

THE    CHARCOAL-BURNER 

Nay,  those  be  dreams,  dreamt  in  Arabian  nights !  — 
And  lies  !  No  poor  folks  live  in  fairyland : 
Haroun  Al  Raschid  is  not  God. 
[With  a  cry,  as  the  young  girl  sinks  down,  overcome  by  the 

storm.~\ 

—  Dear  child ! 

THE   YOUNG   GIRL 
Father,  in  that  snowdrift,  see  ! 
A  lady  tall  and  beautiful : 
She  waves  her  wand,  and  all  the  flakes 
Come  round  her  head,  like  butterflies. 

THE   CHARCOAL-BURNER 

[Trying  to  lift  her.] 
Rise  up  !  The  fever  blinds  ye. 

[He  staggers  and  falls  beside  her.] 

—  Ah,  dear  God  ! 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  5 

THE   YOUNG   GIRL 

[Gazing  into  the  falling  snow,  which  begins  to  grow  luminous.] 

She  gives  to  every  butterfly 

A  little  broom,  to  brush  away 

The  cobwebs  of  the  storm ;  and  now 

In  all  the  corners  of  the  dark 

They  shake  the  sunlight  from  their  wings. 

THE   CHARCOAL-BURNER 

[Praying.] 
Her  soul  is  leaving,  Lord  !  Send  her  Thy  grace ! 

THE  YOUNG   GIRL 
Look  there  !  —  all  ivory  and  gold 
And  crystal,  carved  with  flowers  —  are  those 
The  pillars  of  a  portico  ? 

THE   CHARCOAL-BURNER 
Those  be  the  trunks  of  frozen  trees. 

THE   YOUNG   GIRL 
And  yonder  the  great  castle  door  ! 

\_A  wild  cry  howls  through  the  storm.] 

Hush !   Do  you  hear  the  Prince's  voice 
So  deep  and  kind  ? 

THE   CHARCOAL-BURNER 

A  wolf  is  near.  « 


6  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

THE  YOUNG  GIRL 
Oh,  Daddy,  do  you  smell  that  bush 
Of  climbing  roses  ?   In  the  midst 
There  is  a  dial  for  the  sun. 

THE   CHARCOAL-BURNER 
Child,  't  is  a  thorn-tree,  shrunk  and  old. 

THE  YOUNG   GIRL 
But  what  are  those,  with  tinkling  bowls 
And  silver  sickles,  coming  out  ? 

•     THE   CHARCOAL-BURNER 
The  icicles  break  in  the  wind. 

THE  YOUNG  GIRL 

They  're  dancing  round  it  and  around  ! 
Who  are  they  ? 

THE   CHARCOAL-BURNER 

Snowflakes  and  dead  leaves. 

THE  YOUNG  GIRL 
Oh,  hark  !  What  is  the  rose-tree  singing  ? 

THE   CHARCOAL-BURNER 

The  wind  is  moaning  in  the  thorns. 

[From  the  thorn-tree  floats  elusive  music  and,  as  Father  and 
Daughter  sink  further  down,  overwhelmed  by  the  storm, 
soft,  elfin  voices  sing  /] 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  7 

THE   VOICES 
Trust  not  what  seems  : 
Lovely  Truth  transforms  forever. 
Joy  without  her  dreams 
Comes  never  —  never. 

[/«  the  midst  of  the  sifting  storm ,  the  thorn-bush  has  become 

encircled  by  dancing,  wraith-like  forms. 
Then,  with  gradual  transformation,  the  thorn-bush  begins  to 

bloom,  revealing  itself  as  a  climbing  rose-tree,  in  the 

centre  of  which  is  a  sun-dial.    The  Dancing  Forms  are 

those  who  are  singing :] 

Take  not  to  task 
Time,  that  Love  is  oft  ill-spoken 
Till  his  ugly  mask 
,  Lies  broken  —  broken. 

\_The  snow  has  become  rainbow-colored,  then  disappears 
wholly,  revealing  the  forest  transformed  into  a  radiant, 
oriental  garden,  blossoming  with  flowers,  stately  with 
terraces  and  the  carved  pillars  of  arcades  at  the  back. 
On  the  left,  a  main  path  leads  to  the  gigantic  closed 
door  of  a  castle.  In  the  centre  of  this  door  glares  a  huge 
Knocker,  grotesquely  designed,  in  brass  and  precious 
stones,  like  a  human  face. 

On  the  right  edge  of  the  scene,  however,  the  snow  still 
falls,  and  the  dim,  frozen  forest  overhangs  —  and  forms 
a  gray,  silvery  background  to  —  the  sunny  bloom  of  the 
garden. 


SINBAD    THE   SAILOR 

There  in  the  snow  still  lie  the  CHARCOAL-BURNER 
and  his  DAUGHTER. 

Near  the  centre  of  the  space  of  bloom,  the  twelve  Dancing, 
Wraith-like  Forms  —  now  transmuted,  no  longer  clad 
in  their  snowflake  draperies  —  are  robed  in  rose-color. 
In  their  hands  six  of  them  bear  shining  silver  sickles, 
which  they  wave  to  their  motion,  while  the  other  six 
carry  shallow,  round  opium-bowls  of  burnished  copper, 
which  blaze  like  miniature  suns.  From  these  they  scat 
ter  rose-petals,  as  they  circle  the  rose-bowered  dial,  in 
their  song:~\ 

All  that  takes  breath 
In  the  lap  of  change  reposes  : 
Deep  in  the  heart  of  Death 
Are  roses  —  roses. 


ACT    FIRST 

During  the  final  transformation  of  the  scene,  the  Dancing 
Forms  complete  their  song.  While  it  is  ceasing,  the  YOUNG 
GIRL  in  the  snow  slowly  raises  her  head,  gazes  at  the  but 
terfly-winged  Forms  of  the  Dancers,  and —  rising  —  runs 
toward  them  in  wonderment. 

THE   YOUNG   GIRL 

HE  butterflies  !  The  butterflies  ! 

she  crosses  the  dividing  line  between  the  wintry  forest 
and  the  blooming  garden,  the  GIRL'S  rags  drop  from 
her,  and  she  enters  the  garden  clad  in  a  lovely  dress  of 
oriental  color  and  design.  Simultaneously,  the  twelve 
Dancing  Forms  vanish  into  the  rose-bower.  Looking 
for  them,  she  stands  bewildered.] 

Where  are  they  gone  ?  —  Where  have  we  come  ? 

Oh,  Daddy,  see  the  garden  —  see 

The  poppies  and  the  peonies, 

The  dial,  and  the  castle  door! 

It  must  be  where  the  dear  God  dwells. 

Come,  come,  and  see  ! 

[The  CHARCOAL-BURNER  rises  in  the  snow  and  moves  to 
ward  her. 

As  he  crosses  the  frozen  line,  his  black  rags,  too,  fall  away, 
and  he  enters  the  garden  clothed  gorgeously  as  an  ori 
ental  Sailor,  with  black  beard  curled  and  bristling  eye- 


10  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

brows  raised  blithely  above  his  broad,  ingratiating  smile. 
He  wears  prodigious  boots  of  many-colored  morocco,  with 
curling  toe-points  and  wide,  flanging  tops. 

Staring  at  him,  the  YOUNG  GIRL  starts  back] 
Why,  who  are  you  ? 

Where  is  my  father? 

THE    SAILOR 
In  his  boots, 
My  dear :   Behold  him  in  his  boots  ! 

THE  YOUNG  GIRL 

[Drawing  back,  as  he  thrusts  forward  a  booted  leg.] 
Dear  me ! 

THE    SAILOR 

What !  don't  you  know  your  Dad  ? 
Pray,  let  me  introduce  myself: 
Sinbad  the  Sailor,  and  your  servant, 
Beauty,  my  daughter! 

THE  YOUNG  GIRL 
Beauty !   I  ? 

SINBAD 

Look  at  your  clothes ! 

[Flicking  off*  some  black  rags,  which  still  cling  to  her  gar- 
ments  and  his  own] 

Our  rag  cocoons 
Are  burst,  and  we  are  butterflies  ! 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  II 

BEAUTY 

[Rapturously  examining  her  clothes.] 

All  silk  and  gold  !   Oh,  beautiful ! 
And  was  I  Beauty  all  the  while, 
And  you,  dear  Daddy,  Sinbad  ? 

SINBAD 

Zooks, 
We  can't  be  always  caterpillars. 

[Tossing  the  rags  into  the  snow] 
We're  done  with  dirty  chrysalises. 

BEAUTY 

[Fingering  her  dress,  and  lifting  its  folds.] 
Oh,  beads  and  lace  and  broider'd  sleeves, 
And  shoes  of  pearl,  and  silken  hose ! 

SINBAD 
Parade  dress  goes  with  garden  parties. 

BEAUTY 

Oh,  will  there  be  a  party  here  ? 
Where  are  we  ? 

SINBAD 

By  my  weather  eye, 
Undoubtedly  this  is  the  garden 
Of  some  enchanted  castle.  —  Look! 
Yon  frozen  shell  of  winter  round  us 
Is  cracked,  and  we,  like  happy  scallops, 


12  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

Live  on  the  rosy  hollow  side 
In  pearly  sunshine. 

BEAUTY 
Who  has  been 

So  kind  to  save  us  from  the  storm  ? 
Who  keeps  this  garden,  Daddy  ? 

SINBAD 

Soft! 

Soft !  Let  me  smell  the  wind  awhile ! 
I  will  discover. 

[SINBAD  moves  among  the  flowers,  smelling  now  one,  now 
another,  with  smiling  grimaces ;  then,  holding  his  nose 
high,  with  his  forefinger  placed  now  on  this  side,  now 
on  that,  he  inhales  prodigious  sniffs.  BEAUTY  follows 
him,  watching  wonder-eyed.  He  approaches  the  castle 
door.] 

By  Nardoun ! 

Hello !   Here  seems  a  likely  fellow. 

BEAUTY 

\Drawing  back.] 
Oh,  what  an  ugly  door-knocker! 

SINBAD 
He  knows  a  thing  or  two,  I  '11  bet. 

[He  salaams  before  the  Knocker.] 
Baba  Abdallah,  may  your  shadow 
Never  be  less ! 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  13 

BEAUTY 
[Horrified.] 
Oh,  look!  Oh,  look! 
[The  Knocker  slowly  extends  a  long,  brass  tongue. ] 

SINBAD 

Your  shadow  increases,  Baba,  I  see! 
Who  is  your  master  ?  Is  he  at  home  ? 

[  One  of  the  Knocker's  jewelled  eyes  slowly  closes,  with  a  lid 
of  veined  marble,  and  opens  again.] 

BEAUTY 

[Pulling  at  SINBAD'S  sleeve.] 
Please  come  away ! 

SINBAD 

Don't  be  afraid ; 
That  was  his  left  eye  :  We  're  in  luck  ! 

[To  the  Knocker. ] 
May  we  presume  to  rap  you,  sir? 

[The  long,  extended  tongue  of  the  Knocker  lolls  slowly  down 
ward,  and  hangs  invitingly.] 

Now  that 's  the  way  to  talk ! 

[SiNBAD  reaches  up,  but,  standing  on  his    tiptoes,  cannot 
reach  the  Knocker.] 

I  say, 

That 's  just  a  bit  above  the  heads 
Of  common  folks.  —  Come  down  a  peg! 


14  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

[To  BEAUTY.] 

They  're  monstrous  high  and  mighty  here ! 
I  '11  have  to  lift  you  up  to  him. 

BEAUTY 
Not  me!  No,  Daddy,  no  ! 

SINBAD 

Hut-tut  ! 
\The  forehead  of  the  Knocker  wrinkles  down-ward^ 

You  hurt  his  feelings.  Look,  he  frowns. 
A  king's  door-slave  must  be  obeyed. 
Come,  Beauty  dear,  be  brave  and  kind  ! 
[SiNBAD  sings :] 

A  kind  heart  is  a  gentle  thing, 

And  being  gentle  needs  be  brave : 

Its  gentleness  subdues  a  king, 

Its  courage  rules  a  slave. 

Then  she  whose  gentle  heart  is  kind,    . 

Though  tongue  of  brass  may  shock  her, 

Yet  heart  of  gold  may  lurk  behind  : 

So,  Beauty,  mind  the  knocker ! 

BEAUTY 

[Sings:] 

A  wry  face  is  a  dreadful  thing, 
And  being  dreadful  needs  be  wrong : 
It  makes  the  soul  to  droop  its  wing, 
The  heart  to  lose  its  song. 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  15 

Then  she  who  shuns  an  ugly  face 
Whose  dreadful  features  mock  her, 
Why  should  she  look  for  lurking  grace  ? 
Why  should  she  mind  the  knocker  ? 

SINBAD 

Come,  daughter,  duty  bids  you  do  it.  — 
At  castle  doors  and  human  hearts 
No  one  can  know  who  does  n't  knock. 

[He   lifts   her  in   his   arms.    The   cheeks   of  the    Knocker 
wrinkle  upward.] 

BEAUTY 
\_Shrinking  back.] 
His  dreadful  tongue ! 

SINBAD 

He  licks  your  hand  ! 
Look  how  he  grins  ! 

BEAUTY 
What  must  I  do? 

SINBAD 

Press  down  his  tongue  :  Make  him  say  —  Ah  ! 
Then  all  is  well. 

BEAUTY 

\Fearfully  —  to  the  Knocker .] 

Please,  sir,  say  Ah  ! 
\With  quick,  timorous  reach,  BEAUTY    touches    the   long 


1 6  SIN  BAD   THE  SAILOR 

tongue,  rapping  it  once  against  the  brass  chin.  Instantly 
a  deep,  metallic  moan  reverberates  within,  and  a  long- 
drawn  sigh  echoes,  as  through  hollow  chambers  of  brass, 
the  wistful  syllable — Ah-h !  BEAUTY  listens,  awe 
struck^ 
Hush  !  did  you  hear  ?  What  sighed  so  sad  ? 

SINBAD 

You  touched  his  heart.  I  told  you  so. 
Now  knock  once  more. 

[BEAUTY  does  so.  The  sigh  is  repeated  more  deeply^ 
Three  times  for  luck ! 

[Timidly,  BEAUTY  knocks  a  third  time. 

A  deep,  groaning  sigh  resounds,  and  the  solid  door  begins  to 

move  slowly  upward. 
BEAUTY  drops  to  the  ground  from  SINBAD'S  arms,  and  starts 

feat.] 

BEAUTY 
Oh,  see,  see !  What  is  coming  now  ? 

\Holding  SINBAD'S  hand,  she  moves  slowly  backward  with 
him,  staring  where  the  great  door  majestically  rises  like 
a  portcullis,  the  Knocker  —  as  he  disappears  above  — 
drawing  in  bis  tongue,  and  closing  his  eyes  with  up- 
rolled  underlids. 

Through  the  door  space  is  visible  a  stately  passage,  with  walls 
of  many-hued  mosaic. 

Along  this  passage  —  to  the  music  of  unseen  instruments  — 
glides  silently  outward  into  the  garden  a  blue  marble 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  I/ 

Table,  upheld  by  the  wings  of  sculptured  Griffins  and laid ', 
for  two,  with  dishes  of  gold,  laden  with  dishes  of  colored 
fruits,  truffled  birds,  candies,  and  appetizing  dainties. 
The  legs  of  the  four  marble  Griffins  move  sinuously  —  the 
two  left-hand   Griffins  backing  on  to  the  scene  with 
hunching,  pardlike   motion  —  as,  slow  and  smooth,  the 
Table  follows  SINBAD  and  BEAUTY,  who  back  away 
before  it,  as  far  as  the  centre  of  the  garden.   Here,  as 
they  pause,  it  pauses.] 

SINBAD 
By  Camaralzaman  !  —  a  feast ! 

BEAUTY 
\Very  low.] 
Is  it  alive  ?  It  moved  its  legs  ! 

SINBAD 

Enchanted  tables  always  walk ! 

[Stuffing.] 

Selah!  At  last  I  smell  a  smell. 
Come  now,  let  's  eat. 

BEAUTY 
Don't  go  too  near ! 

[Pointing.] 
What  are  they  ? 

SINBAD 

Griffins! 


1 8  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

BEAUTY 

[Timidly,  as  the  Griffins  roll  their  jewelled  eyes  at  her.] 

Won't  they  bite  ? 

SINBAD 
No  more  than  lapdogs.  —  Here,  be  quiet ! 

[Picking  up  two  small  truffled  birds  from  a  plate,  he  feeds 
them  to  the  Griffins,  who  open  their  marble  jaws  and 
swallow  the  birds,  relapsing  into  rigidity.  SINBAD  then 
takes  a  roast  bird  in  his  own  fingers  and  begins  to  eat 
it,  smacking  his  lips.] 

A  nightingale  !  —  Ha  !  Help  yourself. 

BEAUTY 

[Drawing  near,  tastes  of  the  confections.] 
Oh,  candied  cherries  —  sugared  quince  ! 

[Lifting  a  little  crystal  cup.] 
And  what  is  this  —  some  wine  ? 

SINBAD 
[Examining  it.] 

Now,  by 

My  sage  experience,  this  is 
Some  of  the  famous  Golden  Water. 

BEAUTY 

What's  that? 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  19 

SINBAD 

Real  Golden  Water,  child, 
Always  goes  with  a  Singing  Tree 
And  a  Talking  Bird. 

BEAUTY 
Is  it  good  to  drink  ? 

SINBAD 
This  glassful  here  will  make  a  fountain.. 

BEAUTY 
A  fountain  ? 

SINBAD 
Look! 

\He  holds  the  tiny  cup  above  a  great  golden  bowl  in  the  centre 
of  the  table,  and  empties  it  into  the  bowl.  Immediately, 
from  the  bowl,  there  gushes  up  a  fountain  radiant  with 
golden  lights.  Leaping  in  the  air  it  continues  to  play, 
its  waters  falling  back  into  the  bowl.] 

BEAUTY 

How  wonderful! 

SINBAD 

Oh,  no  :  on  all  true  tipping-tables 
It 's  quite  the  thing  as  a  centre-piece. 
But  look ! 
[From  the  castle  there  glides  forth  a  gorgeous  divan.    Upon 


20  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

it  are  lying  garments  of  bright-colored  silk  and  jewelled 
ornaments^ 

A  magic  wardrobe  :  just 
The  style ! 

BEAUTY 

Oh,  Daddy  Sinbad  —  gold 
And  silk  !  What  a  pretty  pelerine  ! 
Oh,  goody,  goody ! 

SINBAD 

\JLifting  a  heap  of  gleaming  gold  and  jewels  from   a  casket 
and  letting  them  slip  through  his  fingers^ 

Here  are  rings 
And  bracelets  — 

BEAUTY 
All  for  me  ? 

SINBAD 

Of  course ! 

\Helping  her  on  with  a  silken  mantle .] 
So!  —  Now  I'll  try  a  dinner  jacket. 

\JrLe  rummages  among  the  silks  and  finds  a  resplendent  ori 
ental  garment  which  he  dons,  while  BEAUTY,  looking 
about  for  a  finishing  touch  to  her  toilet,  spies  the  rose- 
tree  and  goes  to  /'/.] 

BEAUTY 

[Exclaiming.] 

Oh,  Daddy,  see  the  climbing  rose, 
And  in  the  centre  —  a  sun-dial ! 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  21 

* 

SINBAD 
Take  care,  there,  where  you  cast  your  shadow. 

BEAUTY 

[  Unheeding.] 

A  rose !  I  '11  pick  a  rose  and  pin  it 
Here !  Then  my  dress  will  be  perfection  ! 
[As  she  reaches  to  pluck  one  of  the  roses,  a  Voice  from  within 
the  bush  sings.] 

THE   VOICE 
Beware ! 

BEAUTY 
[Startled.'] 
Who  sings  ? 

THE   VOICE 
Beware ! 

SINBAD 

Aha  !   What  said  I  ?  —  Singing  Tree 
Always  grows  by  Golden  Water. 

BEAUTY 
Just  one  red  rose  ! 

[She  touches  the  rose.    The  Voice  sings  shrilly] 

THE   VOICE 
Beware ! 
[BEAUTY  draws  back,  with  a  sharp  cry] 

Oh,  dear, 
Oh,  dear !   It  pricked  my  thumb. 


22  SINBAD    THE  SAILOR 

SINBAD 

[Looking  up.~\ 

What's  that? 

BEAUTY 
It  hurts ;  it  bleeds !     - 

SINBAD 

[Coming  to  her  hastily.] 
Quick,  let  me  see ! 
Your  thumb  ? 

BEAUTY 

[Showing  it] 
A  drop  of  blood  ! 

SINBAD 

What  luck!-— 
Here,  here,  don't  suck  it ! 

BEAUTY 

[Fearfully] 

Will  I  die? 

SINBAD 

Red  blood  !  And  on  your  thumb  —  superb  ! 
Now,  by  the  pricking  of  this  thumb, 
Something  strange  our  way  shall  come  ! 

[He  takes  from  his  boot  a  great  jewelled  dagger] 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  2$ 

BEAUTY 
[Shrinking  back.] 
Oh,  who  is  coming?  What  is  that? 

SIN  BAD 

My  dagger.  —  Put  it  on  the  point. 

BEAUTY 
Put  what  ? 

SINBAD 

The  blood  ;  the  precious  drop  ! 
Be  careful :  on  the  very  tip. 

[He  holds  her  thumb ,  and  carefully  detaches  the  drop  upon  the 
dagger's  point,  which  he  then  holds  before  him  and  sniffs 
triumphantly.] 

Aha !   The  scent  of  bloody  gore 
Reeks  to  my  expert  soul  once  more ! 

BEAUTY 

[Gazing  at  SINBAD,  who  begins  to  write  upon  the  air  with 
his  dagger's  point] 

Daddy,  what  will  you  do  ? 

SINBAD 

With  this 

Will  I  discover  what  we  seek  : 
Cite,  summon,  invocate,  incant 
The  enchantress  of  the  Singing  Tree. 
Soon  we  shall  see  who  rules  this  place. 


24  SINBAD    THE  SAILOR 

[Stooping^  on  the  space  before  the  rose-tree,  SINBAD  draws  in 
the  earth  with  the  handle  of  his  dagger  a  circle,  in  the 
centre  of  which  he  sticks  the  dagger,  handle  down 
wards,  in  the  earth.  Going  then  to  the  golden  fountain, 
be  scoops  some  of  the  water  into  a  golden  dish,  which  he 
hands  to  BEAUTY  to  hold,  while  he  sprinkles  from  it 
upon  the  dagger's  point,  standing  outside  the  circle, 
about  which  he  dances,  with  great,  booted  strides  and 
skips,  while  he  sings  —  at  the  end  of  each  verse  sa 
laaming  to  the  dagger :] 

Golden  Water,  wax  and  flood 
Drop  of  virgin  Beauty's  blood  ! 
Egg  of  roc  and  griffin's  claw, 
Hatch  in  wonder,  hold  in  awe, 

Codadad,  Deryabar, 

Zobeide,  Schemselnihar ! 

Singing  Tree,  with  song  dispart 
Drop  of  virgin  Beauty's  heart ! 
Caliph,  Genie,  Calendar, 
Bring  with  music,  blaze  with  star, 

Medinas,  Benihalal, 

Cogia  Hassan  Alhabbal ! 

Talking  Bird,  bid  Time  make  whole 
Drop  of  virgin  Beauty's  soul ! 
Hashish,  Banja,  Hebanon, 
Summon  here  the  Secret  One ! 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  2$ 

Schahariar,  Schahzenan, 
Cascheash,  Camaralzaman  ! 

\JWitb  SINE  AD'S  final  salaam,  there  bursts  from  the  top  of 
the  rose-tree  a  little  shining  cloud  of  butterflies,  white 
and  gold,  in  the  midst  of  which  rises,  out  of  the  sun 
dial,  the  form  of  a  beautiful  and  stately  Lady,  calm- 
browed  and  clad  in  rose-color.  Above  her  head  she  wears 
a  golden  disc.  In  her  hand  she  holds  a  silver  sickle. 
BEAUTY  stares  and  drops  her  bowl.] 

THE    STATELY   LADY 
Who  calls  the  Stately  Lady  from  her  calm  ? 

SINBAD 

^Prostrating  himself.] 
Sinbad  the  Sailor,  her  obsequious  slave. 

[Nudging  BEAUTY  with  his  foot.] 
Salaam  ! 

[BEAUTY  prostrates  herself.] 
Don't  stare  :  it 's  impolite. 

THE    STATELY   LADY 
[To  BEAUTY.] 

Who  art  thou  ? 

BEAUTY 
Beauty. 


26  SINE  AD    THE  SAILOR 

SINBAD 


So  please  your  Highness  ! 

[Grimacing  to  BEAUTY.] 

.  Always  say, 
So  please  your  Highness  ! 

BEAUTY 
Oh  !  —  So  please  your  Highness  ! 

THE    STATELY  LADY 
Beauty,  why  did  you  touch  my  sacred  rose  ? 

BEAUTY 
It  looked  so  pretty. 

SINBAD 

[/»  a  deep  voice.] 
Please  your  Highness  ! 

BEAUTY 
[In  haste.] 

Please 
Your  Highness  ! 

THE    STATELY  LADY 

Child,  you  know  not  what  you  do. 
It  is  my  rose-tree  you  have  made  to  bleed. 
Its  sap  is  beauty's  life-blood  and  it  blooms 
In  the  heart  of  time.  Who  plucks  at  beauty's  life 
Beware,  beware  my  thorn  ! 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  2J 

SINBAD 

She  will  beware  — 

BEAUTY 

[/«  panic  as  SINBAD  frowns  and  moves  his  lips-] 
So  please  your  Highness  ! 

THE   STATELY  LADY 
Rise! 

[SINBAD  and  BEAUTY  get  to  their  feet  —  BEAUTY  following 
SINBAD'S  actions  minutely] 

Sinbad  the  Sailor, 
You  are  a  man  of  sage  experience. 

SINBAD 

[Smiling  broadly.] 
You  do  me  proud,  Sultana. 

THE    STATELY  LADY 

You  survive 
Proudly  your  seven  voyages. 

SINBAD 

[Salaaming] 

Praised  be  Allah! 

THE    STATELY  LADY 
Therefore  I  count  upon  you  to  instruct 
Your  daughter  with  your  wisdom.  —  Promise  me, 
That  she  shall  never  more  molest  my  rose-tree ! 


28  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

SINBAD 

By  Cascheasch,  King  of  Genies,  Stately  Lady, 
I  swear. 

BEAUTY 
I  swear  too,  Stately  Lady,  by  — 

THE    STATELY   LADY 

[Holding  out  her  sickle] 
By  this,  my  silver  sickle,  swear ! 

BEAUTY 

[Touching  the  sickle.] 

I  swear 
By  this  your  silver  sickle  ! 

THE    STATELY  LADY 
[Hanging  the  sickle  on  the  dial.] 

That  is  well ; 

So  here  I  leave  my  sickle  for  a  pledge : 
My  son  and  I  have  long  awaited  you 
And  you  are  welcome  to  our  home.  —  Enjoy 
The  Golden  Water,  hark  to  the  Singing  Tree, 
But  do  not  harm  it,  greet  the  Talking  Bird, 
But  do  not  take  her  counsel.  Learn  of  all, 
But  do  not  be  misled  by  ugliness 
Or  fooled  by  finery.   Trust  not  what  seems  ! 

[The  cloud  of  butterflies  closes  about  her  head,  and  she  van 
ishes  within  the  dial] 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  29 

BEAUTY 
{With  awe.] 

Oh,  is  she  gone  ?  Why  did  she  go  ? 
How  beautiful  and  wise  she  was ! 

SINBAD 

[Nonchalant.] 
Enchantresses  are  all  like  that. 

BEAUTY 

She  said  her  son  and  she  had  long 
Awaited  us.  What  did  she  mean  ? 
Where  is  her  son  ? 

SINBAD 

By  Abou  Ayoub, 

Here  comes  the  Talking  Bird :  we  will 
Inquire. 

[From  within  the  corridor  of  the  castle  comes  a  sound  as  of 
chattering  jays  and  screaming  parrots ,  and  against  the 
mosaic  is  seen  approaching  a  preening  Female,  clothed  in 
blue-greens  and  purples. 

Her  plumed  head,  with  beaked  forehead  and  bright,  slant 
eyes,  strangely  resembles  a  peacock's ;  her  glistening  gar 
ment  is  overlaid  with  staring  irises  of  peacock  tails,  and 
swishes  the  blue  marble  floor  with  feathery  fringes. 

Escorting  her,  two  little  Apes,  in  livery,  bear  trays,  on  which 
are  crimson  and  green  decanters  and  crystal  goblets. 
As  they  draw  nearer,  the  PEACOCK  LADY  sidles  and 


30  SINE  AD    THE  SAILOR 

preens,  perking  and  slanting  her  face  ingratiatingly, 
while  her  bow-legged  attendants  bow  low,  looping  up 
their  tails  behind  them.] 

BEAUTY 
[Gazing.] 
Is  that  a  bird? 

SINBAD 
Just  listen ! 

\_As  the  PEACOCK  LADY  cocks  her  beaked  profile  toward 
them,  the  chatter  and  scolding  of  birds  make  babble 
from  within  the  castle,  while  she  speaks.] 

THE   PEACOCK   LADY1 
Free  —  pree  —  pree  —  pretty,  pretty, 
Beau  —  Beau  —  Beau  —  Beauty,  Beauty, 
Gree  —  gree  —  gree  —  greet-greet  — greeting ! 

BEAUTY 
[Curtsying  shyly] 
How  do  you  do ! 

[70  SINBAD.] 
Why,  how  she  stutters! 

1  In  the  Peacock  Lady's  "stuttering"  speeches,  the  first  three 
measures  of  each  verse-line  are  comparatively  slow  and  cooingly 
stressed,  the  last  two  increasing  in  rapidity  with  a  twittering  stac 
cato,  which  at  times  —  when  she  is  angry  or  excited  —  becomes  a 
birdlike  scream. 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  31 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

\_Perking  and  bowing  to  them  both.] 
We  we  we    we  we 

Entrea — trea — trea —  entreat,  entreat 
You  you  to  drink,   to  drink,  to  drink! 

SINBAD 

[Bowing.] 
Your  Lady-Birdship  is  most  bounteous. 

BEAUTY 

[Staring] 
Thanks ! 

[To  SINBAD.] 

Can't  she  stop  her  stammering? 

SINBAD 

Hush  !   That 's  her  little  way  of  lisping 
To  be  ladylike  :   Don't  notice  it. 
She  '11  slow  up  soon  when  she  gets  easy. 

THE    PEACOCK  LADY 

[To  SINBAD.] 

Goo  —  goo  —  goo  —  goo  —  good 
Sirrah,  sirrah,  sirrah,    wo-wo  —  won't  you 
Take  a  jug,  take  a  jug  ? 

SINBAD 
Is  this  for  both  ? 


32  SINE  AD    THE   SAILOR 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

{Shrilly.} 
Each  —  each  —  each  —  each  of  you,  each  of  you. 

SINBAD 

{Helping  himself  to  a  decanter .] 
I  '11  try  this  one. 

BEAUTY 

{Drawing  back  from  one  of  the  Apes,  who  extends  to  her  his 
tray,  speaks  to  SINBAD.] 

Why  do  they  tie  their  tails  in  loops  ? 

SINBAD 
That 's  just  their  way  of  aping  beaus  ! 

{To  the  PEACOCK  LADY.] 
Your  Goo-goo-ship,  this  glass  I  quaff 
To  your  bright  eyes  ! 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

{Preening. ~^ 
You  are  too  witty,  sirrah,    too  witty,  too  witty ! 

SINBAD 
Too  witty !   How  so  ? 

THE    PEACOCK  LADY 
To  wit,  sirrah,  to  wit :    too  witty  to  woo  ! 
Tut,  tut!  Too  witty  to  woo,    's  too  wise  to  wed. 

{She  taps  him  coquettishly  with  her  beakJ\ 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  33 

SINBAD 

[Bowing  away  backward,  speaks  aside  to  BEAUTY.] 
Allah!  what  a  bird!  She  pecks  me  up 
Like  breakfast  food.  Look  out  for  her; 
She  is  the  local  villainess. 

[Salaaming  solemnly  to  the  BIRD.] 

Lady 
Your  most  obedient  early-worm  ! 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

Chee  —  chee  —  chee  —  cheer  up,  cheer  up  — 
I  won't  gobble  you!     Drink  your  jug  of  juice  up. 

[She  swishes  past  him.  SINBAD  takes  this  opportunity  to  re 
treat  between  the  two  Apes  and  help  himself  to  drink 
from  right  and  left. 

The  PEACOCK  LADY  squeezes  BEAUTY'S  arm  ingratiatingly 
and  leads  her  away  toward  the  rose-tree^ 

Coo  —  coo  —  could  you  —   could  you  walk  a  little  ? 

BEAUTY 

[Goes  with  misgiving,  looking  back  toward  SINBAD,  who 

is  busied  with  the  decanters.] 
Please  :  are  we  going  far  ? 

THE   PEACOCK   LADY 

Just  to  the  roses; 

Have  n't  you  had  one  ?  Hush  !  I  '11  tell  you  a  secret  — 
I  really  do  not  stutter. 


34  SINE  AD    THE  SAILOR 

BEAUTY 
Oh! 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 
I  merely 
Pretend  —  to  please  the  men-folks  ! 

BEAUTY 

Oh! 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

Yes :  really 
I  'm  not  a  peacock  lady :  I  'm  a  princess  ! 

BEAUTY 
Oh! 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

Only  I  wear  this  face  to  charm  the  men-folks. 
Men  like  us  to  be  birds  and  wear  fine  feathers. 
You  saw  how  dazzled  he  was ! 

BEAUTY 

Who? 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

\Glancing  back.] 

Poor  Sinbad ! 

But  I  'm  so  tickled  you  have  come,  my  dear ; 
Our  Prince  will  lose  his  heart  to  you  !  You  're  just 
Perfect ! 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  35 

BEAUTY 
Where  is  the  Prince  ? 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

You  want  to  see  him  ? 

BEAUTY 

[Eagerly.] 
Please,  yes  !  When  will  he  come  ? 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

He  cannot  come 
Till  you  have  cut  one  of  his  roses. 

BEAUTY 
[Draw ing  back] 

Oh, 

But  I  have  promised  — 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

Ah,  then,  very  well : 
I  see  you  never  want  to  meet  the  Prince ! 

BEAUTY 
Please,  but  I  do  ! 

THE   PEACOCK   LADY 

Then  you  must  cut  a  rose. 

BEAUTY 

Is  that  the  only  way  ? 


36  SINBAD    THE  SAILOR 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

The  only  way  ! 
That 's  why  the  Stately  Lady  left  her  sickle  — 

[Lifting  the  sickle  from  where  it  hangs,  she  offers  it  to 
BEAUTY.] 

Come  !  just  one  rose  :  then  you  will  see  the  Prince  ! 
You  '11  hurt  his  feelings  if  you  don't  take  one. 

[Moving  the  bough  of  the  rose-tree  near  to  BEAUTY.] 

BEAUTY 

[Gazing  at  the  rose  on  the  branch,  which  the  PEACOCK. 
LADY  offers  enticingly.] 

I  would  n't  like  to  hurt  the  Prince's  feelings  — 
He  was  so  kind  to  save  us  from  the  storm.  — 
And  then,  besides,  it  will  be  so  becoming. 

[She  takes  the  sickle  from  the  PEACOCK  LADY.] 
*T  is  such  a  pretty  rose  ! 
[She  raises  the  sickle  to  cut.    From  the  rose-tree  the  voice  of 

the   STATELY    LADY   sings.    BEAUTY    draws   back, 

listening.] 

THE  VOICE 

Once  was  a  girl  in  a  garden, 
Naked  and  wild  and  free; 
She  asked  no  leave  or  pardon  : 
She  plucked  of  an  apple-tree. 
Though  an  angel  there 
Cried  out :   Beware! 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  37 

She  broke  of  the  apple-tree : 

And  a  sword  sprang  out, 

And  a  sword  sprang  out, 
And  pierced  her  mortally. 

BEAUTY 
Who  is  singing  ? 

THE    PEACOCK   LADY 

No  one  is  singing.   Cut  the  rose. 

BEAUTY 

[Raising  the  sickle.] 
It  is  a  lovely  rose. 

[She  cuts  off  the  rose  with  the  sickle.  Instantly  it  turns  white, 
its  green  leaves  become  silvery,  and  the  spray  which 
she  holds  in  her  hand  droops  with  glittering  icicles. 
BEAUTY  drops  the  sickle,  holding  the  white  rose,  ap 
palled.'] 

Alas  !  it  freezes. —  Look,  't  is  white  ! 

[From  within  the  castle  resounds  a  deep  and  terrible  roar: 
"Ai!    The  rose!"] 

Ah,  me!   What  voice  is  that? 

[The  PEACOCK.  LADY  hurries  toward  SINBAD,  who  at  the 
cry  has  thrown  away  his  glass  in  consternation,  while 
the  two  little  Apes  drop  their  trays  in  alarm,  and  jump 
upon  the  table.] 


38  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

SINBAD 

Haroun 
Al  Raschid  !  What  has  happened  ? 

BEAUTY 

[Poignantly .] 

Frozen ! 
'T  is  frozen,  dead  ! 

THE   VOICE   WITHIN  THE   CASTLE 

[  Awfully^ 
A-i-!   —Ah—  oof 

\Along  the  great  corridor  comes  striding  a  terrifying  crea 
ture.  He  wears  a  long  purple  gown ;  bis  head  is  shaped 
like  a  beast's ;  through  his  hair  —  shaggy  like  a  lion's 
mane — peep  two  pointed  horns;  his  face  is  human,  but 
huge  and  malformed  in  feature.  His  hands  are  hairy, 
and  clawed,  and  he  clutches  them,  brandishing  long 
arms,  as  he  strides  into  the  garden,  roaring  ;] 
The  rose  !  The  rose  ! 

BEAUTY 

[Screaming,  rushes  toward  SINBAD.] 
Daddy,  what 's  that  ? 

BEAST 

[Roaring  toward  them.] 
Restore  the  rose ! 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  39 

SINBAD 

[Catching  sight  of  BEAST,  seizes  one  of  the  Apes  bodily 
from  the  table,  and  holds  it  in  front  of  him,  sinking  on 
his  knees  in  terror  J\ 

Illabousastrous  !  Allah  preserve  us  ! 

BEAST 

[Seizes  the  chattering  Ape,  and  burls  it  away,  glaring  at 
SINBAD  and  at  BEAUTY,  who  is  hiding  behind  him.~\ 

My  mother's  rose  !  —  The  enchanted  rose  ! 
Who  dares  to  steal  her  magic  rose? 

SINBAD 

[Furtively  reaching  for  his  dagger. ~\ 
By  Kosrouschah  !   He  '11  swallow  us  ! 

BEAST 
Touch  not  the  knife :  I  am  the  Prince. 

BEAUTY 

[Peering  over  SINBAD'S  shoulder.] 
The  Prince  !  Ah,  me,  are  you  the  Prince  ! 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

[Who  has  flustered  past  them  to  the  castle  door,  screams  back 

shrilly.] 

Cree-cree-cree  —   creat-creatures, 
I  '11  chee-chee-cheat  —  cheat  you  all,  cheat  you  all ! 
[Snapping  her  small  black  eyes,  she  swishes  into  the  castle. and 


40  SINBAD    THE  SAILOR 

disappears.  From  the  table  and  the  path,  the  little  Apes 
leap)  with  tails  on  end,  and  scamper  after  her.] 

BEAST 
[To  BEAUTY.] 

Why  have  you  broke  the  vow  you  swore 
Upon  the  sickle  ? 

BEAUTY 
'Twas  the  Bird  — 

SINBAD 
It  was  the  Bird,  most  beauteous  Prince ! 

BEAST 

Beauteous  ?  Mock  not !  My  name  is  Beast ; 
I  am  the  Stately  Lady's  son ; 
From  yonder  castle  hall  I  watch 
To  guard  my  mother's  sacred  rose. 

BEAUTY 
Spare  us,  Lord  Beast  ! 

SINBAD 

Great  Sultan,  spare  us ! 

BEAST 
Spare  ye  ?   Have  I  not  saved  you  both  ! 

[//i?  points  to  the  wall  of  winter  surrounding  them.~\ 
Behold  the  frozen  forest  boughs, 
The  falling  sleet,  the  numbing  storm, 


A    LYRIC  PHANTASY  41 

The  sculptured  walls  of  Death  !  —  'T  was  I 
Who  saved  you  from  that  bitter  wood 
To  bask  in  dreams  and  bloom  of  flowers. 

BEAUTY 

Oh,  yes,  it  was  so  good  of  you. 

BEAST 
Heard  ye  not  my  voice  in  the  storm  ? 

BEAUTY 
Oh,  yes,  I  heard.  'T  was  deep  and  kind. 

BEAST 

Heard  ye  not  how  I  sighed  within 
My  castle  yonder,  when  you  knocked 
On  the  great  door  ? 

BEAUTY 
Oh,  yes,  I  heard. 
'T  was  deep  and  sad. 

BEAST 

Ye  wretched  ones, 
Why  have  you  done  me,  then,  this  wrong  ? 

SINBAD 
It  was  the  Bird  —  the  Peacock  Lady  ! 

BEAST 

Thy  spirit  crawls,  thou  cringing  slave  ! 
It  was  thyself  which  art  to  blame  ! 


42  SINBAD    THE  SAILOR 

For  thou  didst  drink  the  Peacock's  wine 
While  Beauty  cut  the  rose.   Oh,  shame ! 
Begone !   I  banish  thee  alone 
Back  to  the  bitter  wood.  Begone ! 

SINBAD 

[Prostrating  himself.] 
Celestial  Sultan,  spare  thy  slave  ! 

BEAUTY 

Oh,  spare  him,  gentle  Beast.  He  is 
My  father ! 

[Pausing  in  his  fierceness^  BEAST  gazes  at  her.  His  face 
changes  and  becomes  wistful.'} 

BEAST 

Dost  thou  call  me  gentle 
And  plead  for  him  ?  Oh,  gentler  Beauty, 
Thy  voice  restores  my  soul  to  me. 
He  is  forgiven. 

[He  motions  SINBAD  to  rise.~\ 
Ah,  but  the  rose  ! 
[Sings.] 

Who  shall  restore  the  fair,  fair  rose 

That 's  faded, 
When  bitter  fate  hath  plucked  and  froze 

And  frayed  it  ? 


A    LYRIC  PHANTASY  43 

How  shall  cold  joy  be  quickened,  how 

Un  jaded  ? 
Oh,  Beauty,  Beauty,  only  thou 

Can  aid  it  ! 

BEAUTY 
[Sings.] 

Oh,  how  can  Beauty  help  at  all 
What  Beauty's  hand  hath  ravished? 
Oh,  rather  let  these  petals  fall 
Than  cling,  so  white  and  dead  ! 
Alas,  when  lovely  life  is  fled, 
How  may  Beauty  lift  the  pall  ? 

BEAST 


Perhaps  she  only  sleeps  —  the  rose 
Which  Beauty's  hand  hath  ravished  : 
Perhaps  her  frozen  leaves  enclose 
A  heart  rose-warm  and  red. 
Ah  then,  if  we  are  cold  instead, 
Time,  the  Stately  Lady,  knows  ! 

BEAUTY,   BEAST,   AND    SINBAD 

[Sing  together.] 

O  sleep,  O  death,  O  frozen  rose 
Which  Beauty's  hand  hath  ravished  ! 
If  love  be  dreaming  or  be  dead, 
Time,  the  Stately  Lady,  knows  ! 


44  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

BEAST 

Come,  Beauty,  will  you  follow  me? 
My  mother  shall  reveal  to  you 
How  to  revive  her  frozen  rose. 

BEAUTY 

Lord  Beast,  I  've  broke  the  vow  I  swore 
And  that,  I  know,  is  very  bad. 
So  I  would  follow  blinding  storm, 
And  black  night  and  the  bitter  world, 
To  make  this  rose  to  bloom  again. 
So  I  will  follow  —  even  you. 

BEAST 
A-i !  Am  I  so  ugly  then  ? 

BEAUTY 

Yes,  you  are  very  ugly,  Beast. 

BEAST 

^Yearningly  .~\ 

Oh,  look  again !  For  long,  long  years 
I  have  awaited  you.  O  Beauty,  — 
Cannot  you  see  ?  Cannot  you  see  ? 

BEAUTY 

\Sbrinking  from  him.] 
I  see  that  you  are  terrible. 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  45 

BEAST 

[Bow s   bis  head)  shuddering,    then   speaks   with   princely 
authority] 

Follow  me  where  my  mother  waits, 
And  bring  the  rose  before  her  throne. 
The  Stately  Lady  knows  us  all ! 

[He  goes  into  the  castle] 

BEAUTY 

[Frightened,  to  SINBAD.] 
Oh,  Daddy  Sinbad,  please  go  first 
And  open  all  the  awful  doors 
And  see  what  hides  behind  them  ? 

[She  motions  him  before  her  into  the  corridor.] 

Go! 

SINBAD 

[With  a  flourish] 

By  Nardoun  !   If  there  be  a  thousand 

Knockers,  I  '11  press  the  tongues  of  all, 

Till  they  say  "  Ah  !  "  —  Follow  me,  Beauty  ! 

[He  treads  stealthily  forward  and  disappears  within.  As 
be  does  so,  the  great  castle  door  begins  very  slowly  to 
descend] 

BEAUTY 

[Watching  it,  appalled] 
Ah,  see !   The  horrid  Knocker  comes 
To  shut  me  in  the  hall  with  Beast. 


46  SINBAD    THE  SAILOR 

Dear  garden  flowers,  good-bye  !  —  Good-bye, 

Bright  Golden  Water,  Singing-Tree  ! 

I  know  not  if  I  '11  see  you  more  ! 

The  J^se  is  freezing  in  my  hand; 

Behind  the  door  't  is  growing  dark ; 

I  know  not  where  I  go  —  Good-bye  ! 

\Eeneath  the  moving  half-lowered  door,  from  which  — 
above  her  head — the  awful  Knocker,  through  unroll 
ing  eyelids,  stares  down  at  her,  BEAUTY  glides  fear 
fully  into  the  darkening  corridor,  and  disappears  behind 
the  still  slow-descending  door.] 

CURTAIN 


ACT   SECOND 


ACT   SECOND 

A  hall  in  the  Enchanted  Castle,  ample  and  oriental  in 
splendor  :  the  deep  blue  ceiling  is  arched  with  domes  and  sup 
ported  by  columns.  Between  two  of  these,  at  back  (right  cen 
tre},  on  a  painted  wall-panel  reaching  to  the  floor,  is  the 
Portrait  of  a  young  Prince. 

On  the  right  is  a  throne  of  blue  and  green  marble,  en- 
wreathed  with  a  sculptured  rose-vine.  On  this  is  seated  a 
carved  female  Figure,  half  veiled,  supporting  with  uplifted 
hands  (like  a  Caryatid]  a  cloudy  crystal  sphere. 

Near  the  Portrait  (at  back,  right]  a  rich  divan.  Above 
this,  a  window  of  stained  glass,  its  centre  being  in  design  a 
great  rose.  At  right  and  left  door-ways.  At  left  of  centre, 
the  hall  stretches  back  as  a  colonnade  of  rich-hued  pillars.  At 
the  far  end  of  this  receding  passage  hangs  a  silk  tapestry 
curtain,  lighted  by  one  hanging  lamp. 

When  the  scene  opens,  this  lamp  casts  the  only  gleam 
through  the  mysterious  hall.  By  its  flickering  glow,  on  the 
mosaic  floor  of  the  colonnade,  is  discernible  a  vague  Figure, 
creeping  with  hands  and  knees  on  its  belly.  Slowly,  squat  like 
a  turtle,  it  wriggles  forward,  pausing  suddenly  as  a  female 
voice  warbles  low,  outside  (on  the  left]. 

THE    VOICE    FROM  THE   LEFT 
IRROUWEE  ! 

\_Raising  its  head  to  listen,  the  dim  Figure  whistles  a  low 
warble  in  answer ;  then,  scrambling  to  its  feet,  starts  to 


50  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

tiptoe  off  left,  as  the  voice  of  the  STATELY  LADY  from 

the  right  sings  close  by.] 

THE   VOICE   FROM  THE   RIGHT 

Sinbad ! 

[The  figure  of  SINBAD  pauses,  with  a  startled  gesture,  but 
begins  to  move  off  hurriedly,  as  the  warbling  sound  is 
heard  again  on  the  left.~\ 

THE   VOICE   FROM  THE   LEFT 
Wirrouwoo ! 

THE   VOICE   FROM  THE   RIGHT 

Sinbad,  be  not  beguiled  ! 

SINBAD 

[/»  a  scared  voice.] 
Which  one  are  you  ? 

THE   VOICE   FROM  THE   RIGHT 

Behold  my  face. 

[  The  cloudy  sphere  of  the  throne  begins  to  glow  with  a  radi 
ance  that  vaguely  lights  the  sculptured  Figure  which 
holds  it,  while  above  the  large  sphere  there  appears  gleam 
ing  in  the  air  a  small  sickle  moon.  The  glow  of  these 
reveals  more  plainly  the  hall,  and  the  figure  of  SINBAD.] 

SINBAD 

[Aghast.] 
Moon-Lady,  is  your  eye  on  me  ? 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  5 1 

THE   VOICE 
Beware  the  Peacock's  Bower ! 

SINBAD 

Your  slave 
Bewares. 

THE   VOICE 

Return  to  Beauty  !   Guide 
Her  steps,  and  ope  my  thousand  doors. 

SINBAD 
Most  slender  Moon,  your  slave  obeys. 

[SINBAD  rises,  quaking,  and  mutters  low.] 
Now,  Sinbad  :  Beauty  or  the  Bird  ? 

[y/j  he  moves  a  few  steps  along  the  colonnade,  low  bells  be 
gin  to  chime  from  the  throne.  Glancing  back  SINBAD 
beholds  the  crystal  sphere  fading  and  the  sickle  moon 
vanished.  Turning  on  his  heel,  he  hurries  stealthily  off, 
left. 

Then,  as  the  sphere  fades  to  its  former  cloudy  sheen,  the  Por 
trait  in  its  frame  begins  to  glow,  till  the  painting  of 
the  young  Prince  quivers  with  life  and  color.  Soon  his 
eyes  look  toward  the  throne,  his  lips  part,  and  he  speaks. ,] 

THE   PORTRAIT 
Lady! 

[0«  the  throne  the  half-veiled  figure  of  the  Caryatid  turns 
her  face  toward  the  Portrait  and  speaks  with  the  voice 
of  the  STATELY  LADY.] 


52  SINBAD    THE  SAILOR 

THE   CARYATID 


My  son. 


THE   PORTRAIT 
Mother  — 


THE   CARYATID 

Speak,  Florimond. 

THE   PORTRAIT 
Has  Beauty  come  ? 

THE   CARYATID 
Not  yet. 

THE    PORTRAIT 

Far  down  the  hall 
Do  you  not  see  her  shadow  yet  ? 

THE    CARYATID 

Not  yet. 

THE   PORTRAIT 

Perchance  she  tarries  in  the  garden  still. 
I  fear  my  dreadful  shape- offended  her 
And  my  harsh  outcry,  roaring  for  the  rose. 

THE    CARYATID 
She  broke  her  vow. 

THE   PORTRAIT 

Teleme,  the  vain  Bird, 
Beguiled  her:  that  false  wight  who  once  beguiled 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  53 

Even  me,  your  son,  till  you  enchanted  us, 
And  changed  her  to  a  Peacock  for  her  pride. 

THE  VOICE  OF  THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

[Sings  outside.] 
Wirrouwoo  !   Tirrouwee  !   Cheet,  cheet ! 

THE   PORTRAIT 

Hark,  yonder,  where  she  crakes  within  her  bower. 
Oh,  mother,  lift  this  stern  enchantment  from  me !  — 
Why  have  you  hung  my  heart's  true  image  here 
And  made  my  heart  to  wear  a  hideous  mask? 

THE   CARYATID 

To  test  the  heart  of  Beauty  and  your  own, 

That  ye  may  both  love  truth  more  than  yourselves, 

And  trust  no  more  what  seems. 

THE    PORTRAIT 

Yet  for  one  day  ! 

For  one  day,  set  my  prisoned  spirit  free 
To  worship  Beauty  and  to  win  her  heart ! 

THE   CARYATID 

One  hour,  in  all  my  day,  I  still  allow 
For  your  imprisoned  soul  to  wander  free : 
The  hour  of  mortal  dreams  —  the  midnight  hour. 

THE    PORTRAIT 

Ah,  me,  at  midnight  hour,  what  visions  bright 

Of  Beauty  have  I  dreamed,  yet  still  in  vain  ! 

The  clock  still  tolls  your  chime,  and  all  grows  dark. 


54  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

[Sings.] 

Alone  at  midnight  hour, 

In  the  pallid  noon  of  dreams, 
My  spirit  awakes  in  power 

And  walks  on  the  wan  moonbeams : 
For  Beauty  without  a  name 
I  burst  from  my  mortal  frame, 
On  a  lover's  secret  quest 
Of  the  fair  and  holiest. 

THE   CARYATID 

[Sings.] 
Alone  at  midnight  hour 

My  spirit  walks  with  thine, 
And  the  world  unfolds  like  a  flower, 
And  a  wonder  fills  like  wine 

The  rose  of  the  world  with  flame, 
For  Beauty  without  a  name 
In  a  land  love  only  knows 
Holds  to  her  heart  the  rose. 

BOTH 

Alone  at  midnight  hour 

My  spirit  walks  with  thine ! 

THE   PORTRAIT 
In  the  pallid  noon  of  dreams 

I  call  upon  Beauty's  name, 
Where  her  soul  in  the  wild  moonbeams 

Stands  naked  without  shame : 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  55 

O  Beauty  that  art  divine, 
Reveal  thy  name  !   Be  mine  ! 
-     For  thy  love  the  wonder  glows 
In  the  heart  of  the  red  world-rose  ! 

THE   CARYATID 

In  the  pallid  noon  of  dreams 

Alas  for  love's  mortal  quest ! 
For  the  beauty  which  only  seems 
Must  fade  from  the  loveliest, 
And  the  beauty  without  a  name 
Shall  pluck  from  the  rose  her  flame, 
When  the  dark  enchanted  tower 
Chimes  the  lone  midnight  hour. 

BOTH 

In  the  pallid  noon  of  dreams 
Alas  for  love's  mortal  quest ! 

THE  VOICE  OF  THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

[Outside.] 
Tirrouwee  !  Wirrouwoo  !  Chug,  chug ! 

THE    PORTRAIT 

Mother ! 

THE   CARYATID 

Hush,  Florimond  !  I  hear  once  more 
Teleme,  the  proud  Bird.  Before  she  comes, 
You  must  resume  your  wonted  form  of  Beast. — 
Till  midnight  hour  you  must  be  dumb  and  dark. 


56  SINBAD    THE  SAILOR 

THE    PORTRAIT 
No,  mother,  no ! 

THE   CARYATID 
My  son,  it  is  my  will.  — 
Now  fade,  bright  Florimond,  and  Beast,  come  forth ! 

THE   PORTRAIT 
Ah!  Ah! 

\With  brow  contracted  in  a  spasm  of  grief \  the  PORTRAIT 
utters  a  soft,  crying  moan,  which,  as  its  high-pitched 
modulation  falls,  grows  deeply  guttural  as  the  harsh 
groan  of  BEAST.] 

BEAST 
A-i!   A-i! 

[v/r  the  glowing  form  of  FLORIMOND  fades  to  his  painted 
likeness  in  the  picture,  the  form  of  BEAST,  clothed  like 
the  Portrait,  steps  out  of  the  frame,  in  the  dimness,  and 
stands  shuddering  before  the  STATELY  LADY.] 

BEAST 
lo!   lo! 

Once  more  the  horrible  voice  speaks  in  my  throat, 
And  makes  my  heart  grow  sick  to  hear :   Once  more 
The  hairy  fingers  and  the  hideous  feet ! 
Oh,  mother,  mother,  is  this  thy  Florimond 
Whose  image  hangs  so  calm  and  silent  there  ? 
Can  yonder  be  the  portrait  of  poor  Beast, 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  57 

Your  son,  who  lifts  these  clawed  hands  to  your  throne 
In  prayer  for  pity  ! 

THE    CARYATID 

Peace,  dear  son.  To  me, 
Thy  mother,  thou  art  always  Florimond. 

BEAST 

But  ah,  to  Beauty  I  am  merely  Beast ! 
May  I  not  tell  her  what  I  really  am: 

[Pointing  to  the  Portrait.] 
Show  her  that  face,  and  say  :  Z0,  there  am  // 

THE    CARYATID 

It  would  be  vain  :  till  Beauty  learns  to  love 
She  never  would  believe. 

BEAST 

But,  will  she  learn 
To  love,  and  to  forgive  my  ugliness  ? 

[He  sings.~\ 

If  Beauty  learns  to  love, 

Will  she  forgive 
Those  gestures  rude  and  gruff 

That  made  her  grieve : 
Those  tones  that  made  her  tremble, 
Those  features,  that  dissemble 
The  soul's  diviner  stuff?  — 
Ah,  will  she  leave 


$8  SINBAD    THE  SAILOR 

His  grossness,  and  discover 
The  kindness  of  her  lover  ? 
If  Beauty  learns  to  love, 
Will  she  believe  ? 

THE   CARYATID 
[Sings.] 

When  Beauty  learns  to  love, 

She  will  not  ask 
For  lover's  sighs,  or  take 

Dark  looks  to  task : 
When  dreadful  tones  entreat  her, 
Her  heart  will  deem  them  sweeter, 
And  for  the  wearer's  sake 

Hold  dear  the  mask. 
Though  Beast  should  bend  above  her 
In  likeness  of  her  lover, 
Still  only,  Dost  thou  love  ? 
Will  Beauty  ask. 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

[Enters  left,  perked  with  overweening  pleasure.] 
Tirrouwoo  !  Wirrouwee  !  Jug,  jug  ! 

[Seeing  the  STATELY  LADY,  she  assumes  at  once  a  drooping 
air,  to  which  the  inflated  loopings  of  her  irised  robe 
respond  by  flattening  smoothly,  while  she  pauses  with 
sad  hesitancy,  and  commiserating  voice.] 

Sultana !  Sultana ! 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  59 

THE   CARYATID 

[Nods  majestically.] 
Teleme ! 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

[Drawing  nearer.] 
I  bring  you  my  sympathy,  gracious 
Sultana,  to  hear  what  has  happened. 
Ah,  tsuh,  tsuh,  tsuh,  tsuh  !  What  a  pity ! 

THE   CARYATID 

What  grieves  you,  Teleme  ? 

THE    PEACOCK  LADY 

To  think  it ! 

That  Beauty  should  steal  from  your  rose-tree. 
Allah !  who  would  have  thought  that  a  maiden 
So  modest  could  be  so  corrupted; 

BEAST 

You  say  well,  proud  lady  :  corrupted  I 
Corrupted  by  you  ! 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

Oh,  Commander 
Of  the  Faithful,  what  can  you  be  thinking? 

BEAST 
'T  was  you  who  deceived  her. 


60  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

[Blinking.'] 

Decei  —  cei  — 
Deceived  her ! 

[Then  lachrymose.'] 
Oh,  Florimond,  Florimond ! 

BEAST 
Call  me  not  by  that  name ;  I  am  Beast. 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

Ah! 
How  changed  you  are  since  your  enchantment. 

[Gazing  at  the  Portrait.] 

On  the  day  when  your  portrait  was  painted  — 
How  well  I  remember  —  I  kissed  it 
And  cried  :  "  What  a  beautiful  creature 
I  have  won  for  a  husband  !  " 

BEAST 

[Turning  away  to  the  Caryatid.] 

Good  mother, 

Your  enchantment  has  made  me  a  monster, 
But  I  thank  you,  that  so  you  preserved  me 
From  wedding  the  soul  of  a  peacock. 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 
A  peacock  !  Oh,  faithless  one  !  Once  you 
Would  call  me  your  dove  and  your  true-love, 
Your  delicate  warbler  Teleme  !  — 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  6 1 

[Sbrilfa] 

How  dare  you  now  call  me  a  peacock  ? 

[Her  drooping  head-plumes  start  on  end,  and  her  feathery 
overgarment  rises  and  ruffles  outward  behind  her,  ex 
panding  upward  like  a  peacock's  tail.] 

BEAST 

Behold  what  you  are !  —  How  the  soul  of 
A  female  has  borrowed  the  flaunting 
And  impudent  plumes  of  the  male  bird ! 

THE    PEACOCK  LADY 

[Bridling  and  pecking  at  him.] 
You  Be  —  Be  —  Be  —  Beast,  you  !  I  ca  —  ca  — 
Ca — came  here  to  offer  my  courteous 
Respects  to  your  mother  ;  and  now  —  now 
You  insult  me.  I  vow — vow  revenge  for 
Your  rudeness.  —  You're  shaped  like  a  lobster, 
You  walk  like  a  wa  —  wa  —  wa  —  walrus, 
Your  chee  —  chee  —  chee  —  cheek  is  all  chins,  and 
Your  head  's  all  kno  —  knobbed  like  a  knocker.  — 
I  hate  you,  I  hate  you,  I  hate  you ! 

[Swelling  and  sidling  with  rage,  her  greenish  plumes  quiver 
ing,  her  iridescent  silks  up-puffed  and  spreading  like  a 
tail  above  her  train,  the  PEACOCK  LADY  sweeps  from 
the  hall.] 

THE   CARYATID 

[To  BEAST.] 
And  once,  my  son,  you  deemed  her  beautiful. 


62  SINBAD    THE  SAILOR 

BEAST 

Alas,  and  now  that  Beauty  really  comes 
I  am  a  Beast  to  her. 

THE   CARYATID 

Hark  !  She  is  coming. 
\_A  low,  reverberating  clang  resounds  and  dies  away.] 

BEAST 
What  sound  is  that? 

THE   CARYATID 

A  closing  door.  It  sounds 
The  last  clang  of  a  thousand  closing  doors 
That  shut  behind  her.  Now  she  lifts  the  silk 
Of  the  last  curtain. 

BEAST 

[Rushing  rapturously  toward  the  colonnade.] 
She  is  coming ! 

THE    CARYATID 

Soft! 
Or  you  will  frighten  her. 

BEAST 

Ah,  I  forgot !  — 
I  '11  hide,  and  watch  her  till  she  find  your  throne. 

[BEAST  secretes  himself  behind  a  great  carved  chair  in  a 
corner  of  the  hall.  On  her  throne  the  STATELY  LADY 
remains  motionless  as  an  image. 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  63 

The  hall  grows  dimmer.  Faint,  timorous  music  sounds.  In 
the  mysterious  light,  the  damask  curtain  at  the  end  of 
the  colonnade  is  crumpled  from  behind  by  a  delicate 
hand,  which  draws  it  aside  enough  to  reveal  the  face 
of  BEAUTY,  peeping  with  wide  eyes  of  wonder. 

As  she  peers  into  the  colonnade,  there  emerges,  from  behind  a 
pillar,  the  pied  head  of  a  human  Cockatoo,  craning 
toward  her.  Aware  of  it,  BEAUTY  quickly  covers  her 
face  with  the  curtain.  The  Cockatoo's  head  withdraws. 
Once  more  BEAUTY  looks  forth  and,  seeing  nothing 
move,  steps  wholly  into  view.  In  one  hand  she  still 
carries  the  frozen  rose.  Coming  gradually  down  the 
long  colonnade,  her  pantomime  is  part  timid,  part 
curious. 

Suddenly,  on  the  mosaic  floor  a  huge  Gargoyle  shadow  is 
thrown  in  her  path,  disappearing  as  she  pauses,  aghast. 
Moving  closer  to  the  wall,  she  chances  to  touch  a  panel, 
which  opens  instantly  of  itself.  Glancing  in,  she  starts 
back  at  what  she  sees,  while  it  closes  as  before. 

Again,  from  behind  a  column,  a  grotesque  head  is  thrust  out : 
this  time  a  turbaned  Ape,  who  grins,  and  vanishes. 

In  front  of  the  Portrait,  she  gazes  at  it  with  admiration, 
which  changes  momentarily  to  awe,  as  the  painting 
gleams  faintly  with  life.  Passing  on  to  the  throne,  she 
stands  fascinated  before  it. 

Above  the  head  of  the  STATELY  LADY,  the  sickle  moon  re 
appears,  surrounded  by  the  starry  constellations  which 
circle  and  glitter,  slowly  wheeling  to  subdued  music; 
while  round  the  surface  of  the  crystal  sphere  —  like 


64  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

shadows  cast  from  within  —  revolve  the  cloudy  outlines 
of  the  world :  continents  and  capes  and  seas. 
Meantime,  still  as  a  statue,  the  STATELY  LADY  gazes  into 
the  eyes  of  BEAUTY,  behind  whom  BEAST  has  slowly 
drawn  near  from  his  hiding-place.] 

BEAUTY 

[/«  a  hushed  voice,  returning  the  STATELY  LADY'S  gaze.] 
Are  you  the  Queen  of  the  World  ? 

BEAST 

[Speaks  hoarsely  at  BEAUTY'S  ear.~\ 

She  is  my  mother. 

BEAUTY 

\In  startled  fear .] 
Ah,  what  are  you  ? 

BEAST 
Have  you  forgotten  me  ? 

BEAUTY 

\Shrin  kingly. ~\ 
I  beg  your  pardon :  you  are  the  Lord  Beast. 

BEAST 
And  this  is  my  mother. 

THE    STATELY  LADY 
Beauty ! 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  65 

BEAUTY 

Now  I  know 

Your  voice  :  You  are  the  Stately  Lady.  —  But 
I  thought  you  lived  in  the  garden. 

THE    STATELY  LADY 

Everywhere 

I  live,  and  from  my  life  my  roses  bloom. 
I  have  a  brother  with  a  snow-white  beard: 
He  bears  a  crooked  scythe  upon  his  back 
To  cut  dead  flowers  to  feed  his  winter  fire. 
His  home  is  in  the  frozen  wood  hard  by. 

BEAUTY 

Oh,  yes,  I  think  I  saw  him  there.   He  passed 
Close  to,  and  stared.  But  he  was  very  old. 

/ 
THE    STATELY  LADY 

Yes,  he  is  old ;  yet  I  am  ever  young. 

My  sceptre  is  the  sickle  moon,  that  reaps 

The  sighs  of  maidens  and  young  mothers'  dreams, 

And  those  I  tie  with  true-love  knots,  to  make 

Garlands  for  lovers  who  obey  my  law. 

BEAUTY 

[Hanging  her  head.] 

I  am  so  sorry  that  I  broke  my  word. 
I  've  brought  your  rose.  'T  is  frozen. 


66  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

BEAST 

Tell  her,  mother, 
How  it  may  bloom  again. 

THE    STATELY  LADY 

'T  is  simple,  child. 

Give  it  to  him  to  whom  your  heart  is  given 
And  it  will  bloom  again. 

BEAST 
[Ardently.] 

Oh,  give  it  me ! 

BEAUTY 

[Quickly  holds  out  the  rose  with  a  smile.] 
Gladly! 

BEAST 
[Taking  //.] 
Ah,  me !  't  is  frozen  still. 

BEAUTY 
[Anxiously] 

What 's  wrong  ? 

THE    STATELY  LADY 

You  gave  the  rose,  but  did  not  give  your  heart. — 
Do  you  not  love  him  ? 

BEAUTY 

Love  an  ugly  Beast ! 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  67 

THE    STATELY  LADY 

'T  was  he  who  brought  you  from  the  bitter  wood, 
And  saved  you  from  my  brother's  cruel  scythe ; 
Gave  you  the  Singing  Tree,  the  Golden  Water, 
And  the  bright  garden.   He  is  a  good  prince 
And  asks  your  hand  in  marriage. 

BEAST 

I  love  you,  Beauty ! 
Will  you  not  marry  me  ? 

BEAUTY 
Oh,  no. 

BEAST 

Ami 
Unworthy  ? 

BEAUTY 
You  are  far  too  ugly,  Beast. 

THE    STATELY  LADY 

Remember  what  the  rose-tree  sang :   Trust  not 
What  seems  /If  you  will  give  your  heart  to  him 
My  rose  will  bloom  again. 

BEAUTY 

I  am  very  sorry: 
I  cannot  give  my  heart  to  any  one. 


68  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

BEAST 

[Supplicating.] 
Yet  hear  me  — 

THE    STATELY   LADY 

Peace,  my  son  !  —  Now,  Beauty,  hear 
My  verdict :  Till  your  heart  shall  learn  to  love, 
Henceforth  your  heart  must  wear  the  frozen  rose ! 

\At  these  words,  the  air  darkens,  sweet  chimes  are  beard 
ringing.  Above  the  throne  the  moon  and  constellations 
flicker  and  grow  dull,  ceasing  their  motion. 

Then,  as  the  lights  of  the  candelabra  leap  up  again,  illumin 
ing  the  hall,  the  throne  is  seen  to  be  transformed  to  a 
tall  timepiece,  in  the  crystal  sphere  of  which  are  clock- 
hands  and  a  dial.  The  STATELY  LADY  has  once  more 
reverted  to  the  Caryatid.  BEAST  stands  gazing  at 
BEAUTY,  on  whose  breast  is  fastened,  glittering,  the 
frozen  rose.] 

BEAUTY 

[Clutching  at  the  icy  spray,  tries  to  tear  it  off  with  her 
hands .] 

The  rose  —  It  clings  to  me.    It  is  so  cold. 
It  hurts  my  breast.    Help  ! 

BEAST 

[Overwhelmed  with  sympathy,  tries  to  approach  and  console 
her,  but  she  draws  back  from  him.] 

How  can  I  serve  you  ? 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  69 

BEAUTY 

Keep 

Your  face  away  !    O  leave  me  ! 

\_From  the  left,  SINE  AD  has  entered.   Catching  sight  of  him 
BEAUTY  flies  to  his  arms.'] 

—  Daddy!    Daddy! 

SINBAD 
Hello,  what 's  this  ? 

BEAUTY 
The  rose  :  take  it  away ! 

SINBAD 

Too  late,  my  dear.    I  can't.    So  make  the  most 
Of  what  you  have  !    'T  is  most  becoming,  really  ! 
Call  it  a  silver  brooch  to  fasten  your  robe.  — 

[He  kisses  her,  as  she  weeps  against  his  shoulder^ 

BEAUTY 
Oh,  Daddy  Sinbad ! 

BEAST 

[Approaching.] 

Sir,  my  court  and  castle 
Are  at  your  daughter's  service.  She  may  see 
Fair  wonders  to  distract  her  from  her  grief: 
I  '11  show  her  magic  halls,  enchanted  towers, 
Dim  tapestries,  rare  crystals  full  of  dreams, 
And  feasts  beneath  cool  fountains ;  all  my  court 


70  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

Shall  wait  on  her,  and  gentle  cockatoos 
And  marmosets  shall  be  her  mandarins 
To  hold  her  train.  —  I  pray  you,  let  me  serve  her. 

SINBAD 

[Salaaming  J\ 

Commander  of  the  Faithful,  you  have  said  ! 
Beauty,  go  with  the  Sultan. 

BEAUTY 

[Clinging  to  him.] 

Must  I  go  ? 

THE  VOICE  OF  THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

[Sings  low  outside.] 
Swee-swee-swee  —  sweet,  sweet ! 

SINBAD 
[Aside  to  BEAUTY.] 

My  dear,  I  have  a  little  trap  to  set  — 
For  Birdie  here.  —  Fear  nothing. 

[To  BEAST.] 

Will  it  please 
Your  Highness  to  return  ? 

BEAST 

We  shall  return 
Right  soon  with  all  my  court,  and  meet  you  here. 

[With  timorous  pantomime,  BEAUTY  leaves  SINBAD,  and 
goes  out  right,  attended  solicitously  by  BEAST.,  As  they 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  71 

go,  from   the  left  appears,  stealthily,  the    PEACOCK 
LADY.] 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 
Sweet  Jack ! 

SINBAD 
Sly  Bird ! 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

[Approaching  him] 
My  sailor  boy! 

SINBAD 

[Pulling  from  his  boot  a  handful  of  dates.] 
My  peewee  princess  !   Have  a  date  ! 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

\_Swallowing  the  proffered  dates,  offers  one  to  him.] 
With  you,  of  course,  dear  !  In  your  beard 
My  heart  has  built  her  nest. 

SINBAD 

I  cross 
Your  bill. 

[They  kiss] 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

[Mysteriously] 
The  trap  is  set.  I  've  laid  — 


72  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

SINBAD 
An  egg  ?  Good  Lord  ! 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

A  plan  :  The  plot 
Is  hatched ! 

SINBAD 
Don't  count  our  chicks  before  — 

THE    PEACOCK    LADY 
There  's  forty  —  in  my  coop.  They  're  caged ! 

SINBAD 

How 's  that  ?  A  batch  of  forty  chicks  ? 
[  Crow  ing.] 

Kikerykee  !  You  are  a  Bird  ! 
We  '11  rule  the  roost. 

THE    PEACOCK  LADY 

We  '11  rule  the  castle, 
Kill  Beast,  and  pickle  the  Stately  Queen. 
You  shall  be  Sultan,  I  —  Sultana  ! 
Come,  now,  and  help  me  open  the  coop. 
I  've  packed  'em  in  this  old  sea-chest. 

\Witb  SINE  AD'S  help,  she  drags  forth  a  great  wooden  chest, 
bound  in  brass.] 

SINBAD 

[Puffing  and  blowing] 
This  hefts  like  half  my  seven  voyages ! 


A    LYRIC  PHANTASY  73 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

[  Unlocking  the  chest  with  a  key.] 
They  're  packed  in  tight :  unbolt  the  sides. 

[SiNBAD  looses  the  brass  catches.  As  be  does  so,  the  lid  flies 
open,  with  a  hideous  yell  from  within.] 

SINBAD 

[Starting  back,  nearly  stumbling  over.] 

By  Zanzibar! 

[Out  of  the  chest  leaps  a  dark-faced,  terrible-featured  ruf 
fian,  in  blood-red  turban  and  grimy,  oriental  garb. 
On  one  arm  he  carries  an  enormous  jar.  In  his  other 
hand  he  bears,  like  a  spear,  a  long  three-pronged  fork. 

He  is  followed  by  a  swarm  of  others  like  himself,  all  leap 
ing,  with  horrible  yells,  into  the  hall,  where  they  set 
down  their  jars,  brandishing  their  barbed  forks.] 

THE   RUFFIANS 

Racachik,  Shacabac,  Boul  Haboul ! 
Nisabic,  Nouronnar,  Nouzhatoul ! 

SINBAD 
What  boys  are  you  ? 

THE   RUFFIANS 

[Sing.] 
Ha !  we  are  the  warranted  Forty  Thieves : 

Racachik,  Shacabac,  Boul  Haboul ! 
And  these  are  our  genuine  pickling  jars 
Where  we  put  our  pickings  to  cool. 


74  SINBAD    THE  SAILOR 

For  we  are  the  dragons  who  drop  at  eaves 
To  gobble  up  sultans  and  shahs  in  sheaves 

And  dine  on  the  heads  of  czars  ; 
And  all  we  can't  swallow  we  carry  away 
And  pickle  'em  down  for  a  rainy  day 
In  our  gory  vinegars. 

Racachik,  Shacabac, 
Racachik,  Shacabac^ 

Boul,  Boul, 
Boul,  Haboul! 

SINBAD 
But  what  are  those  forks  ? 

THE    CAPTAIN 

\Wttb  a  gesture  not  to  be  interrupted."} 
Pray,  let  us  explain  ! 

THE   THIEVES 

[As  they  sing  the  latter  part,  peer  over   the  edges  of  their 
jars  and  thrust  in  their  pronged  forks. ,] 

Ho  !  we  are  the  hideous  Forty  Thieves  : 

Racachik,  Shacabac^  Boul  Haboul ! 
And  those  are  our  horrid  vernaculars 

To  curdle  the  blood  of  a  ghoul. 
And  these  are  the  forks  we  use  as  spits 
To  griddle  our  food  in  the  grewsome  pits 

Of  our  bubbling  pickling  jars  ; 
And  whenever  a  head  or  an  arm  upheaves, 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  7$ 

We  give  it  a  poke,  and  laugh  in  our  sleeves 
With  horrible,  foul  Ha  —  Has  ! 
Racachik)  Shacabac, 
Racachik,  Shacabacy 
Ha!  Ha! 
Ha!  Ha— ha! 

THE   CAPTAIN 

[Stepping  before  the  PEACOCK  LADY.] 

Teleme,  Queen  of  Birds,  to  you 
I  yield  the  sacred  pickle-fork !  — 
My  Forty  Thieves  await  your  word. 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

[Taking  the  proffered  fork.] 

I  accept  my  sceptre,  Captain.  This 
Is  my  affianced  emperor, 
Sinbad  the  Sultan. 

SINBAD 

Glad  to  meet  you, 
Captain.  My  good  friend  Ali  Baba 
Has  often  mentioned  you. 

THE   CAPTAIN 
[Bowing.~\ 

Your  slave ! 


76  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

SINBAD 

I  like  your  bold  vocabulary  : 
Now  Racachik  and  Shacabac, 
What  are  those  ? 

THE   CAPTAIN 

Swear-words,  please  your  Highness, 
To  scare  the  ladies  when  we  rob. 

SINBAD 
And  Boul  Haboul? 

THE   CAPTAIN 
That  is  my  name. 
[Pointing  to  his  men.~\ 
They  like  the  sound :  it  gives  them  courage. 

[As  SINBAD  takes  a  step  toward  the  men,  they  get  behind 
their  jars.] 

You  see,  I  have  to  keep  them  stoked 

With  oaths,  or  else  their  nerve  cools  down. — 

Ho,  there,  you  robbers  :  — Boul  Haboul  / 

THE   FORTY  THIEVES 

[Shout.] 

Racachik,  Shacabac,  Boul  Haboul! 
Nisabic,  Nouronnar,  Nouzhatoul ! 

\With  their  yell,  their  prowess  revives,  and  they  step  for 
ward  fiercely  in  front  of 'their  jars .] 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  77 

SINBAD 

Bully  !  —  that  's  martial  discipline, 
Eh,  Birdie  ? 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 
They  are  matchless  !  —  Captain, 
Seize  now  the  castle  ! 

THE   CAPTAIN 

[Salaaming. ,] 

Lo,  't  is  seized, 
Sultana ! 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

[To  the  CAPTAIN.] 
Good! 

[To  SINBAD.] 

I  told  you  so. 

[Seating  herself  in  the  great  carved  chair ',  motions  SINBAD 
to  sit  beside  her,  and  addresses  the  CAPTAIN  and 
THIEVES.] 

Now,  bow  before  our  throne,  and  hail 
Your  Sultan  and  Sultana. 

THE   CAPTAIN 

[Motions  to  the  THIEVES.] 
Down  ! 

[Prostrating  themselves  beside  their  jars,  the  CAPTAIN  and 
the  FORTY  THIEVES  beat  the  sides  of  their  jars  with 
their  forks,  making  a  horrible  din  while  they  yell.] 


78  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

ALL 

Sinbad !  Teleme ! 
Sultan!  Sultana! 

[In  the  midst  of  their  yelling,  a  terrible  roar — from  off 
right  —  causes  them  abruptly  to  cease  and  raise  their 
heads,  with  dropped  jaws  and  startled  eyes.] 

THE   VOICE   OF   BEAST 

[Outside.] 
Who's  there? 

THE   THIEVES 

[Shout  more  faintly  —  half  sitting  up] 
Sultan  !  Sultana  ! 

THE   VOICE   OF   BEAST 

[More  terribly] 
Whoo-o-o  's  there  ? 

[The  THIEVES  leap  to  their  feet  and  grab  up  their  forks, 
while  SINBAD  and  the  PEACOCK  LADY  rise] 

;     THE   CAPTAIN 

[Shouts  with  a  show  of  bravado,  then  runs] 
Ho,  Boul  Haboul ! 

THE   THIEVES 

[Begin  faintly  —  but  stop] 
Boul!— Boul!  — 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  79 

SINBAD 

[Stepping  forward,  as  the  PEACOCK  LADY,  hopping  uneas 
ily,  hangs  on  his  arm.] 

'T  is  only  Beast.  Prepare 
Your  pickling  jars ! 

THE   VOICE   OF   BEAST 

[Roars  more  loudly,  accompanied  by  the  screaming  of  birds 
and  animals.] 

Who-o-o  's  ther-r-r-re  ? 

[The  THIEVES  and  their  CAPTAIN,  in  scared  uproar,  run 
behind  their  jars.  SINBAD  seizes  the  fork  from  the 
PEACOCK  LADY  and  rushes  about,  poking  them  out.] 

SINBAD 

Ha,  Racachik ! 

THE   THIEVES 

[  With  chattering  jaws.] 
Chik-chik ! 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

[  Upon  losing  hold  of  SINBAD'S  arm,  becomes  flustered  and 
begins  to  run  round  and  round  the  wooden  chest,  like  an 
unnested  hen,  waving  her  arms  toward  the  THIEVES.] 

Take   take   take,      take   take,  take  care  of,  take 

care  of, 
Your    cut — cut — cut —     cutlery,  cutlery,  cutlery  ! 


80  SINBAD    THE   SAILOR 

SINBAD 

[Forking  the  THIEVES.] 
Ho,  Shacabac ! 

THE  THIEVES 
[Rushing  about.] 

Cabac, 
Cabac !  bac ! 

[Terror-struck ,  the  Captain  climbs  into  his  jar.  At  this,  the 
others  rush  pell-mell  for  their  jars  and  jump  in,  some 
climbing  feet  first,  others  scrambling  headlong,  with 
heels  kicking  the  air.] 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 
Tuck   tuck   tuck   tuck,          tuck   tuck   tuck,         tuck 

behind,  tuck  behind 
Your  tar —  gets,     your  tar —  gets  ! 

[Thus  squawking,  she  circles  the  chest  more  and  more  nar 
rowly  till,  catching  up  her  Jlounces,  she  leaps,  with  one 
last,  panicky  scream,  over  the  side  of  the  chest,  and 
dodges  down  inside,  as  the  big  lid  falls  shut.] 

SINBAD 
[Lunging  at  the  THIEVES'  legs.] 

Racachik,  Shacabac,  ho ! 

[Seeing  the  lid  of  the  chest  falling,  SINBAD  rushes  to  catch 
it,  just  too  late,  as  BEAST  enters  roaring,  followed  by  his 
enchanted  court  of  Barbary  Apes,  Marmosets,  Chim- 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  8 1 

panzees,  Parrots,  Cockatoos,  etc., all  gorgeously  apparelled 
and  all  chattering,  squeaking,  and  screaming.] 

BEAST 
Who  's  there,  I  say  ? 

SINBAD 

\_Standing  on  the  chest] 

Hail,  Sultan ! 
[He  bows  low] 

BEAST 

How, 
Sinbad !  Art  thou  alone  ? 

SINBAD 

Alone 
As  I  was  born. 

[The  Apes  and  Cockatoos  scream  louder :] 

BEAST 

[Turning  to  them] 
Hush,  gentlemen !  — 

Ladies ! 

[To  SINBAD.] 

What  were  those  gruesome  sounds 
I  heard? 

SINBAD 

The  yells  of  Racachik, 
Your  Highness. 


82  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

BEAST 
Who  is  Racachik  ? 

SINBAD 

[Brandishing  his  fork.] 

A  giant  shark,  whom  once  I  slew 

With  this  harpoon :  From  his  skull  bones 

I  made  yon  forty  jars. 

BEAST      ' 
What 's  in 
The  jars  ? 

SINBAD 

The  yells  of  Racachik, 
Your  Highness. 

BEAST 
What !  They  're  full  of  yells  ? 

SINBAD 

Echoes,  my  Prince !  Like  ocean  shells 
That  store  the  echoes  of  the  waves, 
These  store  the  voice  of  Racachik. 
When  with  this  pronged  harpoon  I  slew 
The  monster,  he  halooed  so  loud, 
That  still  the  echoes  of  his  roar 
Sleep  in  his  bones,  from  which  I  carved 
Those  forty  jars. 


A    LYRIC  PHANTASY  83 

BEAST 
You  charm  me. 

[Approaching  the  jars.] 
May 
I  look  in  ? 

SINBAD 

[Steps  down,  intervening^ 
Lord,  no  !  With  a  look 
They  might  explode  !  But  you  shall  hark  : 
Listen ! 

[He  sings  in  a  deep  voice.] 
Ho,  Nouronnar ! 

THE  JARS 

[Respond  with  deep  echoes,  which  die  away.] 
Ho,  Nouronnar ! 

SINBAD 
[To  BEAST.] 
You  try. 

BEAST 
[Sings.] 
Ah,  Nouzhatoul ! 

THE  JARS 

[Echoing  lugubriously.] 

Ah,  Nouzhatoul ! 


84  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

BEAST 
How  marvellous ! 

SINBAD 

Oh,  nothing  much. 
A  trifle  !  I  collect  such  things 
On  my  sea-voyages,  to  provide 
My  daughter's  dowry. 

BEAST 

[Looking  at  the  box.] 
What  is  this  ? 

SINBAD 

That  is  an  old  sea-chest  of  mine. 
My  daughter  packs  her  trousseau  in  it ; 
Just  now  't  is  full  of  —  feather  muffs. 
I  trust  your  Highness'  love-suit  prospers, 
For  all  my  riches  shall  be  yours 
With  Beauty's  hand. 

BEAST 

\Gloomily  ^ 
Speak  not  of  that 

To  me,  but  to  your  daughter.   Here 
She  comes.  I  've  tried  with  all  my  court 
To  cheer  her  spirits,  but  in  vain ! 
[BEAUTY  enters,  right,  attended  and  surrounded  by   the 

Enchanted  Court. 
This  comprises  females,  who  have  the  heads  and  feet  of 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  85 

birds  —  chiefly  tropical  species  of  vivid-colored  Cockatoos 
and  Parrots  —  and  males,  whose  heads  are  those  of 
Apes  and  Monkeys,  varying  in  species  from  large-sized 
Baboons  and  Chimpanzees  to  little  Marmosets,  clad  in 
the  oriental  garments  of  men.  These  stare  at  BEAUTY, 
gibbering  and  cackling,  and  mimic  her  motions. 

BEAUTY  is  attired  like  an  oriental  Empress,  with  long 
mantle  of  shining  pearls,  borne  behind  her  by  eight  little 
gray  Marmosets,  her  train-bearers.  Before  her,  two 
blue-faced  Baboons  walk  backwards,  thrumming  stringed 
instruments.  Her  own  lithe  figure  —  with  eyes  down 
cast,  for  fear  of  meeting  the  grimaces  of  her  inquisitive 
Courtiers  —  is  overtopped  by  two  prodigious  Cockatoo- 
Ladies,  who  waddle,  gaunt-toed,  on  either  side,  hunch" 
ing  their  gorgeous  shoulders,  each  slanting  down  at  her 
a  single  big  round  eye,  while  they  fan  her  with  enor 
mous  scarlet  and  yellow  feathers. 

BEAST,  leaving  SINBAD,  goes  forward  to  meet  her,  with  gro 
tesque,  adoring  gazes.  ,] 

SINBAD 

Well,  well  ;  attended  like  a  Queen  ! 
What  more  could  heart  desire  ? 

[Greets  her  smilingly.] 

Now,  Beauty, 
How  are  you  ? 

BEAUTY 


Pretty  well  —  I  wish  — 


86  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

BEAST 

Oh,  speak  your  wish  !    It  shall  be  granted ! 
I  'd  give  my  crown  to  make  you  smile. 

BEAUTY 

[Looking  about  tearfully. ~\ 

I  wish  I  were  at  home  1  —  I  wish 
I  had  my  dirty  rags  again. 

BEAST 

Alas! 

[Dejectedly,  to  SINBAD.] 
I  told  you  so. 

SINBAD 

Hight-tighty !    That 's 
No  way  to  wish!    Come,  you're  a  Queen! 

[Addressing  one  of  the  Cockatoo-Ladies,  who  is  tipping  one 
eye  close  to  BEAUTY,-  takes  from  his  boot  a  huge  hard 
tack  biscuit.] 

Heigh,  Polly,  here 's  a  cracker.    Keep 
Your  eye  on  me. 

[She  takes  it  greedily  in  her  beak  and  turns  away,  followed 
inquisitively  by  the  other  Cockatoos.  The  other  Creatures 
immediately  gather  round  SINBAD,  chattering,  with  up 
lifted  beaks  and  nozzles] 

What !  The  whole  crowd  ? 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  8/ 

BEAST 

[Gloomily.'] 
Now,  Beauty,  can't  you  smile  ? 

BEAUTY 

[Her  knuckles  in  her  eyes.] 
No,  Beast. 

SINBAD 

\JVho  has  backed  away  as  far  as  the  chest,  surrounded  by 
the  clamoring  Creatures,  calls  out  to  some  of  them  who 
are  approaching  the  jars.] 

Hey,  there  !  don't  peek  in  those :  they  're  empty. 
My  boots  are  at  your  service.  — 

[Calling  them.] 

Ladies ! 
My  lords  !  Chuck,  chuck,  chuck  ! 

[y/j  he  calls,  the  Creatures  gather  close  round  him,  craning 
their  necks.   SINBAD  calls.] 

Halloa,  Beauty; 
Come  watch  the  birdies  ! 

[BEAUTY,  accompanied  by  BEAST,  crosses  to  the  carved  chair, 
and  watches,  finally  —  in  her  eagerness  to  see  —  climb 
ing  upon  the  seat.  SINBAD,  diving  both  hands  into  his 
wide-flanging  boots,  brings  to  light  handfuls  of  edibles, 
which  he  distributes  among  the  excited  Creatures.'] 

Here,  Pistachios ! 
Chuck,  chuck,  chuck !  —  water-biscuits  !  —  soft !  — 


88  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

[He  scatters  a  handful  of  little  nuts  and  biscuits  on  the  lid 
of  the  chesty  where  the  Creatures  struggle  for  them. 
Some  he  puts  himself  into  their  hands  and  beaks.] 

Softly,  my  lords  !    Room  for  the  ladies  ! 

Here 's  cocoanuts  !    Palmetto  dates  ! 

[He  tosses  cocoanuts  to  the  Apes  and  Baboons  who  catch  them. 
A  little  Marmoset  climbs  on  his  shoulder  and  sits  nib 
bling  dates.] 

Figs  !  —  Pomegranates  !    Chuck  —  chuck  !    Raisins  ! 

BEAUTY 

[Clapping  her  hands,  jumps  up  and  down  in  the  great  chair.] 
Oh,  Daddy,  Daddy  !   Are  n't  they  funny ! 

[She  bursts  out  laughing.] 
Lord  Beast,  do  look ! 

BEAST 

[In  great  delight.] 

She  smiles  !    She  laughs  ! 

[The  Creatures  scatter  with  their  nuts  and  fruit ,  and  gather 
together,  right,  munching  and  chattering.  BEAST  comes 
to  SINBAD.] 

BEAST 

I  pray  you,  sir,  do  more  to  make 
Her  spirits  merry. 

SINBAD 

If  't  would  please 
Your  Highness,  I  could  sing  a  ballad. 


A  LYRIC  PHANTASY  89 

BEAST 
I  do  beseech  you.  — 

[To  his  Grand  Vizier  —  a  Baboon."] 

Summon  here 
My  dancers  ! 

[The  Grand  Vizier  runs  out.    BEAST  turns  to  BEAUTY, 
escorting  her  to  the  great  chair.] 

Will  you  sit  by  me 
And  watch  them  ? 

BEAUTY 


Thank  you,  Beast  ;  I  think 
I  'd  rather  sit  alone. 

SINBAD 

[Mounting  the  lid  of  the  chest.] 

My  lords 

And  ladies,  pray  you  hearken  !    I 
Will  sing  a  ballad  of  the  seas, 
How,  off  the  coast  of  Zanzibar, 
I  slew  the  red  shark  Racachik  ! 

[BEAUTY  sits  on  the  carved  chair.  BEAST  sits  on  a  stool  at 
her  feet.  The  enchanted  courtiers  and  ladies  group 
themselves,  as  a  crowd  of  Ape  Tumblers  and  Animal 
Dancers  enter  and  surround  SINBAD  in  their  dance] 


90  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

[SiNBAD  sings.] 
Our  bowsprit  splits  the  setting  sun, 

Our  keel  the  scarlet  sea, 

Where  the  simoons  snort  on  our  weather  bow 
And  the  typhoons  roar  a-lea. 
And  we  heave  a  loud  Yahoo! 
When  the  whale-mouthed  billows  whack  us, 
As  we  fight  the  red  shark  Racachik 
Aboard  of  the  Albarraccas. 

THE  JARS 

\_Sing,  in  chorus.] 

Yahoo !  Yahoo ! 

How  the  whale-mouthed  billows  whack  us, 
As  we  fight  the  red  shark  Racachik 
Aboard  of  the  Albarraccas  ! 

BEAUTY 

\Who  has  risen,  startled,  spea&s  low  to  BEAST.] 
Where  are  they  ? 

BEAST 
Hush  !  They  're  in  the  jars. 

BEAUTY 
What  *s  in  the  jars  ? 

BEAST 

Echoes !  They  are 
The  stored-up  roars  of  Racachik. 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  91 

SINBAD 
[Sings.-] 
We  Jve  sailed  from  Zir  to  Zanzibar 

By  the  one-eyed  giant's  isle, 
Where  we  gorged  on  the  roasted  eggs  of  rocs 
In  oriental  style. 
From  Gor  to  Mangalore 
We  have  voyaged,  till  now  we  tack  us 
To  grapple  the  red  shark  Racachik 
Aboard  of  the  Albarraccas. 

THE  JARS 

[In  chorus.] 
From  Gor  to  Mangalore,  etc. 

SINBAD 
His  rip-jaws  snap  the  rising  moon, 

He  swallows  spar  and  sail ; 
From  Oraluk  to  Hogolu 

He  swings  his  smashing  tail; 
And  ho !  the  spouting  gore 
When  his  horrible  grinders  hack  us, 
As  we  haul  the  red  shark  Racachik 
Aboard  of  the  Albarraccas. 

THE    JARS 

[/«  chorus.] 

Ho-ho !  the  spouting  gore,  etc. 


92  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

SINBAD 
Now  cut  the  ruddy  carcass  small 

And  slaver  the  crimson  foam, 
And  steer  for  Bong  and  Mazagan 
And  the  bungalows  of  home  ! 
For  it 's  Yo,  the  red,  red  blood  ! 
And  a  rousing  yell  to  Bacchus ! 
As  we  roast  the  red  shark  Racachik 
Aboard  of  the  Albarraccas ! 

THE    JARS 
[/«  chorus.] 

Yo-ho,  the  red,  red  blood! 
And  our  rousing  yell  to  Bacchus ! 
As  we  roast  the  red  shark  Racachik 
Aboard  of  the  Albarraccas  ! 

\_As  SINBAD  concludes  his  ballad  and  is  about  to  step  down, 
a  muffled,  female  voice  from  within  the  chest  suddenly 
gives  him  pause.] 

THE    VOICE 

[Hesitatingly.] 
Cuck  —  cuck  —  cuck  — 

SINBAD 
[  Ominously.] 
It  is!  It  is! 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  93 

THE   VOICE 

[More  assured.] 
Cuck  —  cuck  —  cuck  — 

[Si  N  BAD  stands  transfixed. 

BEAUTY   and  BEAST  rise,  the  Ape-courtiers  tiptoe,  crane 

their  necks,  the  Bird- Ladies  perk  their  heads, —  and 

all  stare  inquisitively  at  the  chest. 
Looking  down  at  it,  SINBAD  speaks,  beneath  his  hand,  in  a 

stage  whisper.] 

SINBAD 
Go  on  !  Go  on  ! 

THE   VOICE 
Cuck  —  cuck  — 

\_Liquidly] 
—  cuckoo  !  cuckoo !  cuckoo ! 

BEAST 

\_With  wide  eyes,  approaching  the  chest] 
What  is  it  ? 

SINBAD 

[With  a  relieved  gasp,  smiles  broadly,  and  calls  out] 
Three  bells,  Captain,  and  all 's  well ! 

[Then,  pulling  from  his  boot  a  big  watch,  he  holds  it  to  his 
ear] 

My  third  watch !  —  Time  to  turn  in,  Beauty  ! 


94  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

[He  steps  down  from  the  chest,  and  kisses  her,  waving  the 
others  away  from  the  chest. ,] 

So! 
Good-night ! 

BEAUTY 
But  I  'm  not  sleepy  yet ! 

SINBAD 

See  there ! 
Signs  of  the  Sandman ! 

BEAUTY 
,  But  where  shall  I  sleep  ? 

BEAST 

If  yonder  couch  be  to  your  wish,  this  hall 
Shall  be  your  chamber. 

SINBAD 

Just  the  thing,  your  Highness  ! 

BEAST 

[To  the  Grand  Vizier.] 
Go  bid  the  court  retire. 

[The  Grand  Vizier  goes  among  the  Creatures,  who  all  go 
out.  BEAST  turns  to  BEAUTY.] 

Yet  one  last  word  : 

Once  more,  before  we  part  for  sleep,  I  beg 
Your  answer :  Will  you  marry  me  ? 


A    LYRIC  PHANTASY  95 

BEAUTY 

Lord  Beast, 
You  have  been  very  good :  I  thank  you  kindly. 

BEAST 

[With  a  glow  of 'hope '.J 
Ah,  you  take  pity  ?  You  will  be  my  wife  ? 

BEAUTY 
I  'm  sorry,  Beast :  I  cannot  be  your  wife. 

BEAST 
Ai,  Ai ! 

\He  turns  away,  dejected.] 

Good-night,  Beauty ! 

BEAUTY 

\_With  a  sigh.~\ 

Good-night, 
Good  Beast. 

BEAST 

[Going  out  woefully] 
lo,  lo! 

[The  hall  is  now  lighted  only  by  moonlight,  which  shines 
through  the  stained-glass  window,  throwing  rich  gules  on 
the  divan  and  floor,  and  radiating  with  a  faint  dim 
ness  through  the  hall. 


9<5  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

SINBAD  and  BEAUTY  are  left  alone.   With  mysterious  ges 
tures,  SINBAD  draws  BEAUTY  farther  from  the  chest, ,] 

Now,  Beauty,  come 
This  way  a  bit. 

BEAUTY 
\Witb  alarm."] 
What 's  wrong  ? 

SINBAD 

The  Talking  Bird : 

[Lowering  his  voice.] 
She  is  a  villainess.    I  told  you  so. 

BEAUTY 
What  will  she  do  ? 

SINBAD 

She  plots  to  seize  the  throne, 
And  murder  Beast. 

BEAUTY 
Oh,  dear ! 

SINBAD 

That's  nothing.   Such 

Things  always  happen  in  enchanted  castles. 
You  trust  your  Daddy ;  and  if  things  go  wrong, 
Call  on  my  good  friend,  Cascheasch. 

BEAUTY 

Who  is  he  ? 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  97 

SINBAD 
A  genie. 

[Pulling  out  of  his  boot  a  small  brass  lamp.] 
Here  !    Just  rub  this,  and  he  '11  come. 

BEAUTY 

[Taking  it] 
What's  this? 

SINBAD 

Aladdin's  lamp.  On  these  occasions, 
I  always  keep  it  handy  in  my  boot. 

\_Reenter  solemnly,  with  candles,  the  two  Lady  Cockatoos,  one 
bearing  a  long  night-gown  and  night-cap,  the  other  a 
pair  of  glass  slippers.] 

BEAUTY 
Dear  !  —  Why  have  they  come  back  ? 

SINBAD 

Hum  !  by  their  looks  — 
To  help  undress  you. 

BEAUTY 


Please,  I  won't  undress  ! 
I  'd  rather  go  to  bed  alone. 

SINBAD 

[Patting  her  head] 
You  shall. 


98  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

[Tossing  two  crackers  to  the  Cockatoos."] 
Here  !  —  Go  to  perch  ! 

[The  Cockatoos  seize  the  crackers,  and  depart,  leaving  the 
night-gown,  cap  and  slippers,  which  SINBAD  picks  up] 

Night-clothes.  I  fancy,  these 
Are  just  my  size. 

[He  tucks  them  under  his  arm.] 

Glass  slippers,  these  are  more 
Your  style,  my  dear. 

[He  hands  them  to  BEAUTY,  and  points  to  the  couch] 

Now  turn  your  afghan  down. 

[As  BEAUTY  takes  the  slippers  and  goes  to  arrange  the  couch 
for  the  night,  SINBAD  hurriedly  tiptoes  to  the  chest, 
takes  from  his  boot  a  small  object  and,  opening  the  lid 
a  crack,  thrusts  it  in,  muttering  low  :] 

Another  date ! 

A  VOICE 

[Smothered,  from  within] 
Cuckoo ! 

[BEAUTY,  putting  on  the  glass  slippers,  turns,  startled,  as 
SINBAD  —  hastily  fastening  the  hasps  of  the  chest  — 
pretends  to  look  in  his  boot] 

SINBAD 

My  watch  is  fast. 
[BEAUTY  turns  back  to  arrange  the  afghan.    As  she  turns 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  99 

away,  SINBAD,  moving  stealthily  to  a  jar,  taps  it  with 
his  toe,  and  scraping  his  throat,  sings  hoarsely.] 

Hem  !  —  Nouronnar  !  —  Nix,  nix  ! 

[  The  targets  on  top  of  the  jars  all  rise  an  inch  or  two,  raised 
from  within,  and  settle  down  again  with  a  low  harsh 
echo.] 

THE  JARS 

Ahem  !  —  Nix,  nix  ! 

[BEAUTY  turns  once  more  and  looks  at  SINBAD,  alarmed] 

SINBAD 
[Coughing.] 

I  've  caught  a  cold.    Remember,  daughter :  don't 
Worry!  —  I'll  sleep  outside  your  door:  —  Good-night, 
And  happy  dreams ! 

BEAUTY 
Good-night ! 

[Left  alone,  she  shrinks  back  by  the  divan  into  the  colored 
glow  which  shines  from  the  rose  centre  of  the  stained 
glass] 

Oh,  dear,  how  big 

The  hall  is,  and  how  dark  the  corners  are ! 

[She  lets  down  her  hair  and,  putting  her  face  close  to  a  rose- 
colored  pane,  looks  out] 

The  garden  sleeps :  above  the  frozen  wood, 
A  little  cloud  is  creeping  toward  the  moon. 

[She  turns  and  looks  at  the  Portrait] 


100  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

How  beautiful  the  Prince  looks  in  the  wall ! 
Perhaps  —  I  thought  almost  he  seemed  alive  — 

[Dreamily.] 
1  wish  —  I  wish  — 

[She  sits  on  the  couch. ,] 

Ah,  me,  how  cold  the  rose 
Lies  on  my  breast ! 

[She  sings.] 

0  frozen  rose, 
Whate'er  thou  art 

Whose  petals  close 
Around  my  heart ! 

Thou  art  so  chill 
Almost  I  sleep : 

1  cannot  feel 

I  cannot  weep. 

Only  there  seems 

Xo  glow  in  thee 
A  Prince  of  Dreams 

Who  burns  for  me. 

I  am  so  numb 

I  cannot  wake: 
Unless  he  come, 

My  heart  will  break  ! 

\With  the  last  cadence  of  her  song,  BEAUTY  sinks  upon  the 
cushions  and  falls  asleep.    The  light  from  the  stained 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  IOI 

glass  grows  dim;  the  rich  colors  fade,  and  the  traceries 
of  the  panes  grow  dull. 

As  the  window  thus  fades,  the  Portrait  begins  to  glow.  Slowly, 
to  the  sweet  chiming  of  the  clock,  it  comes  fully  to  lift 
and  color,  as  the  eyes  ofFLORiMOWDgaze  upon  BEAUTY 
sleeping. 

The  fair  youth  smiles  enamoured,  raises  his  arms  in  a  great 
gesture  of  joy,  and  steps  out  of  the  painting,  which  turns 
instantly  dark. 

Then,  through  the  fabric  of  columns,  and  walls  and  ceiling, 
appear  throngs  of  twinkling  candles,  held  by  hands  of 
those  whose  bodies  are  viewless.  Only  the  arms,  clad  in 
the  oriental  sleeves  of  Courtiers  and  Ladies,  are  visible. 

In  the  glimmer  of  these  candles,  Prince  FLORIMOND  steps  to 
the  foot  of  the  couch  —  the  clock  still  chiming.  As  he 
does  so,  the  half-veiled  faces  and  forms  of  the  visionary 
Courtiers  and  Ladies  appear,  gazing  behind  their  out 
stretched  candles. 

FLORIMOND  makes  a  gesture  for  them  to  withdraw.  At 
this,  they  recede  within  the  walls  and  columns,  the  flames 
of  their  candles  remaining  for  a  moment  still  agleam, 
then  disappearing  like  fireflies  in  darkness. 

Except  for  the  faint  traceries  of  the  window,  there  is  now 
visible  only  the  glittering  frozen  rose,  which — lying  on 
the  breast  of  BEAUTY  —  irradiates  from  the  dark  a 
little  space  of  cloudy  light,  where  her  sleeping  face  nests 
in  her  golden  hair. 

Dimly  the  form  of  FLORIMOND  is  seen  to  approach  her  and, 
bending  over,  is  about  to  touch  the  frozen  rose. 


102  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

At  this  instant,  through  the  ceasing  chimes,  the  clock  sings 
"  Beauty  !  Beauty  !  "  BEAUTY  starts  up,  and  FLORI- 
MOND  draws  back  in  the  dimness.] 

BEAUTY 

Who  calls  for  me  ? 

FLORIMOND 
I  call. 

BEAUTY 

And  who  art  thou  ? 

FLORIMOND 
The  Prince  of  Dreams.  —  Awake  ! 

[The  rich  hues  of  the  stained  glass  have  begun  to  revive, 
and  the  many-colored  moonlight  streams  across  the  couch 
illumining  FLORIMOND,  where  he  stands  at  the  foot.] 

BEAUTY 

I  see  thee  now. 
I  know  thy  face. 

FLORIMOND 
Ah,  if  thou  know,  be  fond  ! 

BEAUTY 
What  is  thy  name  ? 

FLORIMOND 
My  name  is  Florimond. 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  1 03 

BEAUTY 
I  seem  to  know.  When  didst  thou  come  before  ? 

FLORIMOND 
I  Ve  sighed  for  thee  a  thousand  years  and  more. 

BEAUTY 
Art  thou  a  Prince  ? 

FLORIMOND 
I  am  a  prisoner. 

BEAUTY 
Alas,  poor  soul ! 

FLORIMOND 
Be  my  deliverer, 
Dear  Beauty !  Free  me  ! 

BEAUTY 

How  ?  Where  is  thy  cell  ? 

FLORIMOND 
Dost  thou  not  know  my  prison  ? 

BEAUTY 

Nay,  but  tell ! 

FLORIMOND 

[Sings.'] 

Prisoned  dark,  prisoned  deep, 
Daylight  is  my  dungeon-keep. 


104  SINBAD    THE  SAILOR 

Pageants  gay,  pageants  fair, 
Passing  nigh  in  music  there 

Never  see  my  sorrow, 
Where  alone  I  mutely  weep 

Morrow  and  to-morrow. 

BEAUTY 

Dancing  here,  dancing  there, 
Daylight  is  my  garden  fair. 
Passing  fleet,  passing  gay, 
Sudden  falls  across  my  play 

Shadow  of  dim  sorrow, 
While  I  wander  debonair  — 

Morrow  and  to-morrow. 

FLORIMOND 

Passion  wild,  passion  free, 
In  my  prison,  pity  me  ! 
Where  the  painted  silence  drips, 
Love,  unchain  my  heart  and  lips, 

Break  my  bitter  sorrow  ! 
Loose  my  soul  to  live  with  thee, 

Morrow  and  to-morrow  ! 


BEAUTY 

has  risen  from  the  couch,  stands  in  the  rose-colored 
light,  looking  toward  the  young  Prince,  who  stands  sup 
plicating  her.] 

Pausing  numb,  pausing  nigh, 
In  my  heart  I  hear  thee  cry  : 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  10$ 

From  my  heart,  where  pity  flows, 
In  my  garden  blooms  a  rose 
Bleeding  for  thy  sorrow, 
For  thy  sake  shall  live,  or  die, 

Morrow  and  to-morrow ! 

[While  BEAUTY  has  sung,  the  visionary  Courtiers  and  La 
dies  have  entered  with  their  candles,  followed  by  female 
Dancers,  whose  forms  glisten  and  glow  like  glass,  har 
monizing  with  the  hues  of  the  stained  window. 
Taking  BEAUTY  by  the  hand,  FLORIMOND  leads  her  toward 
the  Courtiers  and  Ladies,  who  are  laughing  and  plying 
merry  banter  among  themselves.] 

FLORIMOND 

Beauty,  thou  hast  slain  my  sorrow; 
Pity  sets  thy  lover  free. 
Now  our  merry  banns  shall  be 
Midnight  hour  and  moonlit  morrow  ! 
\W"ith  ardent  looks  for  BEAUTY,  he  points  to  the  window.] 
See  how  the  sickle  moon  shines  rosy  fair. 

BEAUTY 
And  thou  dost  love  me  ? 

FLORIMOND 

By  that  moon,  I  swear ! 

BEAUTY 

\Looking  at  the  Courtiers  and  Ladies.~\ 
Who  are  those  merry  folk,  that  make  such  sport  ? 


106  SINBAD    THE  SAILOR 

FLORIMOND 
Those  are  my  Joys,  that  come  to  pay  thee  court. 

[The  Courtiers  and  Ladles  pause  in  their  play,  and  salaam 
with  their  candles.] 

BEAUTY 

\Looking  at  the  Dancers.] 
And  what  are  they  —  in  gold,  and  ro'se,  and  blue  ? 

FLORIMOND 
Those  are  my  happy  Dreams,  that  have  come  true. 

[The  Dancers,  saluting  FLORIMOND  and  BEAUTY,  com 
mence  their  ballet,  which  simulates  the  varied  lights  of 
the  stained  glass,  and  approximates,  in  form,  a  many- 
colored  rose,  in  the  centre  of  which  BEAUTY  and  FLORI 
MOND  stand —  upraised  on  the  wide  lid  of  the  chest  — 
and  sing,  together  with  the  visionary  Court,  who  sway 
their  twinkling  lights  to  the  music.] 

ALL 
Beauty,  thou  hast  slain  our  sorrow; 

Pity  sets  her  lover  free. 

Now  their  merry  banns  shall  be 
Midnight  hour  and  moonlit  morrow ! 

\Whlle  the  Chorus  ceases, —  in  the  midst  of  the  dancing, — • 
FLORIMOND  looks  at  the  rose  on  BEAUTY'S  breast,  and 
reaches  toward  it.] 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  IO/ 

FLORIMOND 
The  frozen  rose  —  oh,  give  it,  love,  to  me  ! 

BEAUTY 

It  holds  my  heart,  —  and  here  I  give  it  thee  ! 

\With  a  cry  of  joy,  FLORIMOND  touches  the  rose. 

In  the  same  instant  the  chimes  of  the  clock  ring  out.,  and 
black  darkness  falls,  through  which  —  while  the  clock 
sings  "  Beauty  !  Beauty  /  "  —  a  few,  faint  candle- 
Jlames  die  away  and  vanish. 

As  the  chimes  still  play,  out  of  the  dark  a  pale  radiance  il 
lumines  the  painting  of  Prince  FLORIMOND,  now  re 
stored.  In  that  faint  glow,  BEAUTY  is  seen,  sitting  up, 
startled,  on  the  couch. 

Clutching  with  one  hand  the  frozen  rose  on  her  breast,  she  is 
staring  at  the  Portrait. 

Through  the  chiming  bells,  the  Voice  of  the  STATELY  LADY 
sings, — as  the  curtain  falls.] 

THE   VOICE 
Awake  from  dreams : 
Trust  not  what  seems  ! 

CURTAIN 


ACT   THIRD 


ACT   THIRD 

The  Portrait  has  faded,  and  the  window  now  shines  with 
a  light  as  of  hoar-frost.  In  its  centre  the  glass  of  the  great 
rose  glistens  like  ice ;  the  rich  gules  are  gone ;  only  the  panes 
sparkle  dimly. 

Through  one  of  these  a  moonbeam  touches  BEAUTY,  where 
she  is  still  sitting  upon  the  couch,  listening. 

From  the  Jars  a  deep  muffled  snoring  sounds,  ceases,  and 
sounds  again,  while  on  their  tops  the  targets  rattle  low  with 
the  reverberations. 

THE   JARS 

s_  J.ABOUL  !  R-rannarr  ! 

BEAUTY 

[Faintfy.~\ 

Who's  there? 

THE  JARS 

Haboul !  R-rannarr ! 

[During  this,  from  beyond  the  left  entrance,  approaching 
candlelight  casts  moving  shadows  into  the  hall.  Looking 
toward  it,  BEAUTY  hastily  reclines  on  the  cushions,  pre 
tending  to  be  asleep. 

Soon,  holding  a  candle,  SINBAD  enters,  clad  in  long  night 
gown  and  night-cap.  Glancing  toward  BEAUTY'S 
couch,  furtively  he  approaches  the  chest. ~\ 


112  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

SINBAD 

[Hooting  low.] 
Oolalooloo ! 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

[From  within,  like  a  whippoorwill] 

Pity  poor  me  !   Pity  poor  me  ! 

[From  her  cushions,  BEAUTY  raises  her  head  stealthily 
and  watches] 


Peewee ! 


SINBAD 
[  Unfastening  the  lid,  lifts  it] 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

[Popping  her  head  out.] 
Cuckoo  !  How  's  the  weather  out  ? 


SINBAD 
Moonshine ! 

THE    PEACOCK  LADY 
Unpack  me,  Jack ! 

SINBAD 

[Lifting  her  out] 

Mum,  Birdie ! 
They  're  all  asleep  ! 

[The  gorgeous  robe  and  train  of  the  PEACOCK  LADY  are 
creased  forlornly,  her  feathery  overgarment  is  ruffled, 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  113 

and  her  irised  tall  is  twisted  to  one  side  and  partly 
flattened.] 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

[Surveying  herself.] 
I  'm  simply  crushed! 

SINBAD 
Just  folded  wrong  ;  you  '11  flatten  out. 

THE   PEACOCK   LADY 

Creased,  crumpled,  ruffled  past  recall ! 
[Hanging  on  his  neck.] 
Ruined!  You'll  never  love  me  more! 

SINBAD 
I  could  not  love  you  more,  old  Bird ! 

THE    PEACOCK   LADY 
Oh,  Jackie,  call  me  not  "  old  Bird," 
Call  me  «  Te/eme,  love's  delight !  " 
I  was  a  Princess  once. 

SINBAD 
Eh!  When 

Was  that  ? 

THE    PEACOCK  LADY 
Before  I  was  enchanted. 
Hush,  we  're  alone:  I  '11  tell  you  all. 


114  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

[She  sings.] 

Lover,  in  the  leafy  dell, 

Pity  poor  me ! 
List  no  more  to  Philomel 

Make  melody, 

For  a  thousand  notes  more  sweet  I  warble 
well. 

Oolalooloo ! 
Peewit !  Puwee ! 

Wirrowou ! 

Tereu, 

Cuckoo, 
Pity  poor  me  ! 

Once  I  was  a  Princess  bright; 

Pity  poor  me ! 
Till  a  wizard  doomed  my  sprite 

A  bird  to  be, 

Warbling  my  sad  and  wandering  ditty,  day  and 
night. 

[SiNBAD  y'tf/wj  in  the  refrain.] 

Oolalooloo  ! 
Peewit !  Puwee ! 

Wirrowou ! 

Tereu, 

Cuckoo, 
Pity  poor  me! 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  US 

Lovers'  eyes  once  deemed  me  fair; 

Pity  poor  me  ! 
Now  in  woe  I  hide  me  where 

No  eye  can  see, 
While  all  little  birds  my  lovelorn  burden  bear: 

[SiNBAD  joins  in  the  refrain.] 

Oolalooloo ! 
Peewit!  Puwee! 

Wirrowou ! 

Tereu, 

Cuckoo, 
Pity  poor  me ! 

SINBAD 
Cheer  up,  my  Princess  Wirrowou ! 

THE    PEACOCK  LADY 

[Leaning  on  his  shoulder.] 
Oh,  Jackie,  do  you  pity  poor  me 

SINBAD 

By  Camaralzaman,  old  Bird, 
What  would  this  world  be  worth  without 
Vengeance  and  vice  and  villainy  ? 
Command  me.  You  shall  be  henceforth 
My  Queen  of  Crime. 


Il6  SIN  BAD    THE  SAILOR 

X 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

\JVitb  business-like  directness] 

I  take  you  up ! 

Where  's  your  adopted  daughter  ?  Where 
Is  Beauty  ? 

[BEAUTY,  who   has   been  listening,  dodges  back  quickly  in 
the  cushions.] 

SINE  AD 
Yonder;  sleeping. 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

\Moving  toward  the  couch.] 

Let 's 
Assassinate  her. 

SINBAD 

[Holding  her  arm,  coughs  uneasily.] 

Wait,  not  yet ! 
We  need  her. 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 
How? 

SINBAD 
If  she  refuses 
Beast  for  the  third  time,  he  must  die. 

THE    PEACOCK  LADY 
Peewit !  I  see  :  Bring  them  together 
And  let  her  slay  him. 


And  then  — 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  1 1/ 

SINBAD 
By  refusing ! 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 
Behead  her ! 

SINBAD 

Boil  is  better. 
Boil  her  in  oil. 

[BEAUTY  moans.'] 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 
Hush  :  we  may  wake  her. 
Come  to  my  bower  and  we  '11  conspire. 

SINBAD 
[As  they  go^\ 

These  forty  jars  will  serve  to  make 
Soup  of  the  whole  court. 

THE    PEACOCK  LADY 
Beast  shall  be 
Beheaded  first  before  her  eyes. 

SINBAD 
I  have  an  executioner's  axe. 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

Pottage  of  Beast  and  Beauty ! 


Il8  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

SINBAD 

Flavored 
With  marmoset  and  cockatoo  ! 

\They  steal  out  together,  left,  SINBAD  lighting  the  way  with 
his  candle.  As  they  go,  BEAUTY  starts  from  the  couch, 
and  stands  weeping.  The  clock  begins  to  chime  and 
sings  again,  "  Beauty  !  Beauty  !  "] 

BEAUTY 

[Answering  woefully.  .] 

It  's  me.  —  Dear  Stately  Lady,  is  it  you  ? 

Oh,  did  you  hear  them  —  what  they  said  ?  Alas  ! 

THE   CLOCK 


Trust  not  what  seems! 

BEAUTY 

Oh,  but  they  said  such  bad  things  :   I  must  find 
Poor  Beast  and  warn  him.  Tell  me,  please,  the  way  ! 
[  The  chimes  have  ceased  and  the  hall  is  utterly  silent.] 
Dear  Lady,  are  you  gone  ?  And  must  I  find 
The  way  alone  ? 

[She  moves  a  little  way  and  stands  trembling^ 

The  castle  is  so  big 

And  dark  !  My  slippers  are  so  cold.  The  rose 
Tickles  my  breast  with  frost. 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  119 

[Suddenly  raising  her  head,  she  pauses  an  instant  and 
then  sneezes] 

Ka-choo ! 

THE  JARS 

\Witb  terrific  echo.] 

Ka —  choo  —  oo  ! 

[BEAUTY,  terrified,  rushes  toward  the  colonnade,  but  stops 
abruptly  as  the  target  jumps  up  from  one  of  the  jars, 
and  the  head  of  the  CAPTAIN  of  the  FORTY  THIEVES 
sticks  out,  peering  horribly.] 

THE   CAPTAIN 

[7fl  sepulchral  whisper.] 
Sultana! 

BEAUTY 

[Gasping.] 
Oh! 

THE   CAPTAIN 

\_Hissingly.] 
Is  't  time  ? 

BEAUTY 

\_Crouching  down  beside  the  jar,  tries  to  imitate  the  PEACOCK 
LADY'S  warble.] 

Pity  poor  me  ! 

THE   CAPTAIN 

Pity  poor  me,  you  mean  !   My  knees  are  cracked  ! 

Nix  yet  ? 


120  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

BEAUTY 
Peewit !  Not  yet. 

THE   CAPTAIN 

My  back  is  cold. 
[Sneezing,  be  pops  his  head  in  again  and  pulls  the 

target  tight.] 
Ka-choo  ! 

THE  JARS 

[Reverberating.] 
Ka-choo ! 

BEAUTY 

[Running  to  the  couch] 

My  lamp!  I  '11  rub  my  lamp.  Help,  Genie,  help  — 
Good  What  's-your-name  ? 

[Lifting  the  small  brass  lamp,  she  rubs  it. 

Instantly  a  vast  column  ofjlame-llt  smoke  and  steam  belches 
upward  to  the  ceiling,  in  the  midst  of  which  —  his  huge 
limbs  half  concealed —  stands  a  gigantic  GENIE. 

From  far  up  in  the  ruddied  dome  above  BEAUTY'S  head  his 
enormous  features,  shaped  like  the  mask  of  the  DOOR 
KNOCKER,  peer  down  at  her,  where  he  holds  one  finger 
aside  of  his  nose. 

In  a  voice  rumbling  like  thunder,  he  speaks.] 

THE   GENIE 

Cascheasch ! 


A    LYRIC  PHANTASY  121 

BEAUTY 
[Dropping  the  lamp,  appalled.] 

Oh,  who  are  you  ? 

THE   GENIE 

Cascheasch ! 

BEAUTY 

Are  you  a  Genie  ? 

THE   GENIE 

[  Grinning  frightfully,] 

Right  you  are. 

BEAUTY 
Were  n't  you  the  big  Door-Knocker  ? 

THE   GENIE 

Right  you  are. 
[He  starts  to  salaam] 

BEAUTY 

[Alarmed] 
Don't  bow.  There  is  n't  room  here. 

THE   GENIE 

[  Straightening] 

Right  you  are ! 
[He  continues  to  grin,  and  there  follows  a  dreadful  pause] 


122  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

BEAUTY 

[Femtfy.] 

My  name  is  Beauty. 

THE   GENIE 

Beauty  :  Right  you  are. 

BEAUTY 
Please  will  you  help  me  —  I  forget  your  name  — 

THE   GENIE 
Cascheasch. 

BEAUTY 

[Wringing  her  hands, .] 
O  Cascheasch,  save  me  from  the  Jars ! 

THE   GENIE 
Cascheasch  obeys. 

[In  his  huge  hand  THE  GENIE  reaches  to  BEAUTY 
a  large  r0//.] 

BEAUTY 
What 's  that  ? 

THE   GENIE 

[Depositing  the  roll  at  her  feet. .] 

The  carpet. 


BEAUTY 

Oh! 


What  carpet,  please  ? 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  12$ 

THE   GENIE 
The  magic  carpet. 

BEAUTY 

Oh! 

What  is  it  for  ? 

THE   GENIE 
To  sit  on. 

BEAUTY 

Thank  you. 

THE   GENIE 

Not 
At  all. 

BEAUTY, 
Why  do  I  sit  on  it  ? 

THE   GENIE 

You  don't. 

BEAUTY 
Don't  I  ? 

THE   GENIE 
You  will. 

BEAUTY 
Will  I  ? 

THE   GENIE 

If  you  are  wise. 


124  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

BEAUTY 
Why  will  I  sit  on  it  ? 

THE   GENIE 
To  save  yourself. 

BEAUTY 

[Looking  toward  the  jars.] 
If  they  fhould  try  to  hurt  me  ? 

THE   GENIE 
[  Grinning.~\ 

Right  you  are. 

BEAUTY 

[Partly  unrolling  the  rug.] 
I  thank  you. 

THE   GENIE 
Not  at  all. 

BEAUTY 
What  made  you  bring  it  ? 

THE   GENIE 
You  rubbed  me  the  right  way. 

BEAUTY 

I  'm  much  obliged. 
\With  a  gracious  nod  of  dismissal.] 
Please  call  again  to-morrow. 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  12$ 

THE  GENIE 

[Tapping  his  nose  with  his  finger.] 
Right  you  are  ! 

[His  voice  thunders  more  deeply  and,  in  a  great  belch  of 
black  smoke,  he  disappears,  startling  BEAUTY  anew  — 
just  as  SINBAD  reenters  left,  without  his  cap  and 
night-gown.~\ 

SINBAD 

[Sniffing  the  air.] 
I  smell  my  old  friend,  Cascheasch. 

BEAUTY 

[Gravely] 

Keep  away, 
Or  I  will  sit  on  it. 

SINBAD 

Eh  ?  Sit  on  what  ? 
[Approaching] 
Oho,  the  magic  carpet ! 

BEAUTY 

[With  a  reproving  look] 
Keep  away ! 

SINBAD 
What 's  up  now,  daughter  ? 


126  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

BEAUTY 

I  am  not  your  daughter. 

SINBAD 

\Wbistles  and  stares.] 
Here 's  mutiny  ! 

BEAUTY 
I  heard  her  say  so. 

SINBAD 

Who? 

BEAUTY 

[Tearfully.] 
"  Adopted !  " 

SINBAD 
Allah  ! 

BEAUTY 

\Witb  increasing  sobs.] 
"  Assassinate  her !  " 

SINBAD 

Lord! 

BEAUTY 
"  Boil  her  in  oil  —  " 

SINBAD 
By  Abou  ! 


A  LYRIC  PHANTASY  127 

BEAUTY 
"Soup.—" 

SINBAD 

Hold  on ! 

BEAUTY 

u  Flavored  with  marmoset  and  cockatoo  ! " 
Oh,  Daddy,  Daddy  Sinbad  ! 

[BEAUTY  breaks  down,  with  sobs.] 

SINBAD 

[  Uneasily,  trying  to  soothe  her.] 

Wait  a  bit, 
Beauty !  —  I  did  n't  know  you  were  awake. 

BEAUTY 

[Sinks  on  her  knees,  burying  her  face. ,] 
Ah,  worse  and  worse  ! 

SINBAD 

[Hovering  over  her.] 

By  Ayoub  !  I  was  fooling. 

BEAUTY 

Fooling  ? 

SINBAD 
I  mean  the  Bird ! 


128  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

BEAUTY 

[Peeping  up  through  her  tears.] 
The  Bird  ? 

SINBAD 

I  told  you 
I  had  a  trap  to  set :  a  scheme  to  catch  — 

BEAUTY 

[Reprovingly] 
To  catch  poor  Beast ! 

SINBAD 
No,  no,  poor  Birdie  ! 

BEAUTY 

Oh! 

Then  you  won't  murder  Beast  ? 

SINBAD 

What  nonsense,  child ! 
Am  I  an  ogre  ? 

BEAUTY 

No ;  but  ought  we  not 
To  warn  him  'gainst  the  wicked  Bird  ? 

SINBAD 

Not  yet ! 
Just  trust  your  Daddy ! 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  I2Q 

BEAUTY 
[Clinging  to  him.] 

Oh,  I  will.    Please  stay ! 
I  want  to  tell  you  of  a  gentle  Prince 
Who  came  to  me.    He  is  a  prisoner. 

SINBAD 
They  always  are,  my  dear. 

BEAUTY 

[Pointing  to  the  Portrait] 

There  hangs  his  picture. 
[Outside,  left,  the  PEACOCK  LADY  calls:  "  Pewee ! "] 

SINBAD 

A  pretty  fellow!  But  I  must  be  gone; 
Run  back  to  bed  again.  You  '11  catch  a  cold. 

BEAUTY 
Don't  go  ! 

SINBAD 

[Patting  BEAUTY'S  head] 
I  must,  or  I  may  lose  my  Bird ! 

[As  he  goes  off,  left,  SINBAD  pauses  a  moment  at  the  CAP 
TAIN'S  jar,  lifts  the  lid,  and  mutters  low] 

Boul! 

THE   CAPTAIN 

[Sticking  his  nose  out] 
Scratch  my  back.    It  itches. 


130 


Mum  there,  mum ! 
Nix  till  the  Cuckoo  sings  1 

THE   CAPTAIN 

[His  teeth  chattering,  disappears  again.] 
Brrrrr ! 

SINBAD 

Sleep  sound,  Beauty! 

\_He  goes  out  with  the  candle,  leaving  BEAUTY  alone  in  the 
dark.    The  Jars  begin  faintly  to  snore  again.] 

BEAUTY 
Please  leave  the  light !    Dear  me  !  What  shall  I  do  ? 

[She  calls  aloud] 
Oh,  Florimond !  dear  Florimond ! 

-THE   VOICE    OF   BEAST 
[Outside] 

I  come ! 

[BEAST  rushes  in  from  the  right ,  dressed  in  a  dark 
night-gown] 

Who  harms  my  lovely  Beauty  ? 


BEAUTY 

Lackaday ! 


I  called  for  Florimond. 


A  LYRIC  PHANTASY  131 

BEAST 

May  I  not  come 
In  answer  to  his  name  ? 

BEAUTY 

[Shrinking.] 

But  you  are  Beast, 
Not  Florimond. 

THE   CLOCK 

[SingS)  while  the  sickle  moon  appears  momentarily  above  the 
sphere^  illuminating  the  hall] 

Trust  not  what  seems  ! 

BEAST 

You  hear 

My  mother's  voice.  Oh,  heed  her  warning.  Still 
Call  me  your  Florimond. 

BEAUTY 
[Looking  at  the  Portrait] 

His  picture  looks 
So  kind  upon  me. 

BEAST 
With  mine  eyes  he  looks. 

BEAUTY 
Beneath  the  sickle  moon  —  he  swore  to  love. 

BEAST 
Once  more  he  swears  —  beneath  the  sickle  moon  ! 


132  SINE  AD    THE  SAILOR 

BEAUTY 

[Gazing  where  the  moon  fades  away  again.~\ 
Alas  !  even  so  he  faded  in  the  dark  ! 
Beast,  tell  me  where  you  have  imprisoned  him. 

BEAST 

Ah,  slay  me  not !   Once  more  —  this  third,  last  time 
I  pray :  Dear  Beauty,  will  you  marry  me  ? 

BEAUTY 

Dear  Beast,  my  heart  is  his  —  my  Prince  of  Dreams. 
I  cannot  marry  you. 

BEAST 

[Gives  a  deep  cry,  staggers  and  falls  to  the  floor. ~\ 
lo  !  Farewell ! 

BEAUTY 

[Bending  over  him.~\ 
Beast,  are  you  ill  ? 

BEAST 
[Raising  his  head  feebly,  makes  a  gesture  toward  the 

Portrait.] 

Speak  to  her,  Florimond, 
Before  you  die ! 

[BEAST  falls  back  with  closed  eyes. 

At  the  same  moment  the  Portrait  of  FLORIMOND  starts  to  life, 
and  gazes  with  tragic  expression  toward  BEAUTY.] 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  133 

BEAUTY 

[Sees  the  glowing  picture  and  rises ,  amazed.] 
You  have  returned  once  more  ! 
Oh,  speak  !   Are  you  alive,  my  Prince  of  Dreams  ? 

FLORIMOND 

[Sings.] 

Beauty,  in  death  my  spirit  bleeds. 

Alas,  for  still  you  trust  what  seems  ! 
Behold  where  dies  the  Prince  of  Deeds : 

Good-bye  !   He  was  your  Prince  of  Dreams ! 

BEAUTY 
My  Prince,  how  pale  you  are  !  Why  look  you  so  ? 

FLORIMOND 
I  die  with  Beast. 

[The  Portrait  grows  dark,  and  BEAST  starts  faintly  to  a 
half-sitting  posture,  reaching  toward  BEAUTY.] 

BEAST 
Ai !   Pity  me,  Beauty ! 

BEAUTY 

\Appalled  at  the  faded  Portrait] 
Come  back ! 

BEAST 

[More  faintly.] 
Dear  Beauty,  marry  me,  or  I  die ! 


134  SINE  AD    THE  SAILOR 

BEAUTY 

No,  no,  poor  Beast.  The  other  loves  me.  He 
Is  dying  and  I  love  him. 

\At  these  words,  as  BEAST  falls  again  prostrate,  the  Por 
trait  of  FLORIMOND  comes  again  to  life,  glowing  more 
pale  than  before.  Swaying  in  his  frame,  he  speaks  in  a 
feeble  voice.] 

FLORIMOND 

Do  you  love  me  ? 

BEAUTY 

[With  a  joyful  cry  at  his  reappearance] 
More  than  the  world  ! 

FLORIMOND 
Then  marry  Beast ! 

BEAUTY 
[Stunned] 

My  Prince ! 
You  bid  me  do  this  ? 

FLORIMOND 

[Faintly] 
Marry  Beast ! 

BEAUTY 

Alas! 
You  love  me  then  no  more  ? 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  135 

FLORIMOND 

\_Still  more  feebly.~\ 

Oh,  marry  Beast ! 

BEAUTY 

[Turning  distractedly  to  the  prostrate  form  of  BE  AST.] 
My  heart !  Where  shall  I  give  my  heart  ? 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

[Entering  with  lights,  leftJ\ 

Cuckoo ! 

\_At  her  cry,  the  scene  lights  up,  the  CAPTAIN  sticks  his  head 
out  of  his  jar,  and  shouts,  "  Haboul,"  whereat  the  tar 
gets  fly  off  the  other  jars,  and  the  FORTY  THIEVES  come 
crawling  out, stretching, yawning,  scraping  their  throats, 
and  making  all  manner  of  stiff-jointed  gestures.] 

THE    THIEVES 
Haboul,  our  backs !   Rranarr,  our  ribs  ! 

BEAUTY 

Ah,  what  are  these  ?  —  Dear  Beast,  rise  up  ! 
They  Ve  come  to  kill  you  where  you  lie. 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

[Screams  to  the  CAPTAIN  of  the  THIEVES,  pointing  at 
BEAST.] 

Decapitate  !  Decapitate ! 


136  SINE  AD    THE  SAILOR 

BEAUTY 

[Turning  in  despair  to  the  Portrait.] 
Oh,  Florimond  !  —  Beast  !  —  Florimond  ! 

[The  Portrait  shines  very  pale,  gradually  fading  paler  and 
paler.] 

THE    CAPTAIN 

[Crossing  his  left  foot  with  the  end  of  his  forefinger] 
My  foot 's  asleep. 

THE   THIEVES 

\Walk,  half  doubled  over,  holding  their  sides  and  backs  with 
groans] 

Our  backs  are  broke  ! 

THE   CAPTAIN 
I  've  caught  a  cold.   Kachoo  ! 

THE   THIEVES 
[Sneezing  with  a  roar] 
Kachoo ! 

BEAUTY 
Help,  Daddy  Sinbad,  help  ! 

SINBAD 

[Entering  with  an  enormous  double-edged  executioner's  axe] 

Who  calls  ? 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  137 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

[Pointing  where  BEAST  lies.] 
Decapitate ! 

[Enter  from  the  right  the  Enchanted  Court,  headed  by  the 
Baboon  Grand  Fizier,  who  enters,  shouting] 

GRAND   VIZIER 
Down  with  the  Thieves  ! 

[  The  Courtiers  pause  chattering  and  stand  facing  the 
THIEVES.] 

BEAUTY 

[Calls  supplicatingly .] 
Daddy! 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

[  Commandingly .  ] 
Ho!  Jack! 

SINBAD 

[Roars  fiercely,  turning  round  and  round  and  brandishing 
his  axe  with  great  sweeps.] 

Who  calls  ? 

THE   PEACOCK  LADY 

[To  the  CAPTAIN,  pointing  at  BEAUTY.] 

Seize  her! 
Boil  her  in  oil !   Boil  her  in  oil ! 


138  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

THE   CAPTAIN 

[Rushing  toward  BEAUTY  with   great  limps,  points  his 
pronged  fork  at  her  with  yells  of  savage  laughter.] 

Haha!  Haha!  Hahahaha!! 

[Behind  him,  the  other  THIEVES  make  toward  BEAUTY 
with  similar  contortions  and  yelling  laughter] 

BEAUTY 

[Who  has  unrolled  the  rug  before  her,  now  jumps  into  the 
middle  of  it  and  sits  down] 

Cascheasch,  preserve  me ! 

[With  arms  outstretched,  the  yelling  THIEVES  rush  to  seize 
BEAUTY;  but  just  as  they  reach  her,  the  rug  rises  into 
the  air  above  their  heads,  wafting  BEAUTY  with  it 
toward  the  back  of  the  hall.  Simultaneously  a  great 
Voice  reverberates  like  thunder] 

THE   VOICE   OF   CASCHEASCH 
Right  you  are ! 

THE    PEACOCK  LADY 

Harpoon  her !  Harpoon  her ! 

THE  THIEVES 

[Dancing  with    rage   beneath   the   rug,  shake  aloft  their 
pronged  forks] 

Shacabac !  Shacabac ! 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  139 

SIN  BAD 

[Brandishing  his  axe  above  the  body  of  BEAST.] 
Who  calls? 

BEAUTY 

[Kneeling  on  the  rug,  and  praying.] 
O  Stately  Lady,  hear  ! 

GRAND   VIZIER 

[To  his  chattering  Court] 
Destroy  the  Thieves! 

[The  Enchanted  Court  run  timidly  toward  the  THIEVES, 
who  turn  and  greet  them  savagely] 

THE   THIEVES 
Boul !  Boul !  Haboul ! 

[Each  Thief,  seizing  a  Cockatoo,  or  an  Ape,  grapples,  hurls 
his  antagonist  to  the  ground,  and  stands  triumphant 
with  long  fork,  threatening] 

THE  PEACOCK  LADY 

[To  the  CAPTAIN  of  the  FORTY  THIEVES.] 
Haboul  !  Prepare  the  pickling  jars  ! 

[To  SINBAD,  pointing  at  BEAST.] 
Decapitate,  I  say ! 

BEAUTY 

[Calling  from  above] 
No,  no  ! 


140  SINE  AD   THE  SAILOR 

SINBAD 

[To  the  CAPTAIN.] 
Prepare  the  execution  block! 

BEAUTY 

[From  above.] 
No  !  Spare  him  !  Mercy  ! 

THE    PEACOCK    LADY 

[To  the  CAPTAIN,  who  brings  a  footstool  and  lays  BEAST'S 
head  on  //.] 

Under  the  neck ! 

SINBAD 

[To  the  CAPTAIN.] 
A  bowl  to  catch  the  gore ! 

THE    PEACOCK   LADY 
Be  quick ! 

BEAUTY 

O  Stately  Lady,  let  me  die 
Instead.  —  Let  me  go  down  to  him ! 

SINBAD 

[To  the  PEACOCK  LADY,  raising  the  axe  to  strike ,  as  the 

CAPTAIN  brings  a  big  brass  bowl.] 
Stand  back ! 


A  LYRIC  PHANTASY  141 

BEAUTY 

\With  a  shrill  cry.~\ 
Dear  Beast,  I  love  you  ! 

THE  VOICE  OF  THE  STATELY  LADY 

[Sounds  loud  and  clear .] 

Peace  ! 

\With  her  call,  a  low  rumbling  thunder  begins  and  the  rug 
on  which  BEAUTY  kneels  is  wafted  down  again  beside 
the  body  of  BEAST. 

As  it  reaches  the  floor,  the  low  rumbling  bursts  with  a  deep 
peal  and  crash  :  utter  blackness  falls,  filled  with  the  roll 
ing  thunder  and  flashes  of  lightning,  out  of  which  the 
Voice  of  the  STATELY  LADY  sings  again  clearly^ 

Be  broken,  Spell !  Enchantment,  cease  ! 

[  Out  of  the  blackness,  on  the  right,  a  burst  of  shining  butterflies 
lights  up  the  hall,  revealing  the  Enchanted  Court  trans 
formed)  the  butterflies  hover  above  the  head  of  the 
STATELY  LADY,  whose  sculptured  clock  is  changed  to 
a  bower  of  red  roses. 

She  herself,  clad  in  rose-color,  steps  down  into  the  hall,  sur 
rounded  by  the  twelve  Dancing  Figures  of  Act  First. 

They  approach  BEAUTY,  where  she  stands  gazing  down  at 
the  prostrate  body,  which  now  raises  the  head  of  FLOR- 
iMOtfvfrom  the  block  and  returns  her  gaze. 

Above  them,  the  groups  of  THIEVES  and  Courtiers  are  re 
versed  in  posture  —  the  thieves  lying  prostrate  beneath 


142  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

the  uplifted  scimitars  of  the  transformed  Courtiers  — 

now  human. 
At  one  side,  SINBAD  is  gazing  in  surprise  at  his  companion, 

the  Bird,  whose  face  is  transformed  to  a  brilliant  dark 

lady,  with  raven  black  locks  and  headdress  of  peacock 
feathers. 
In  the  background  the  Portrait  has  disappeared,  and  in  its 

place  the  vast  door-knocker  face  of  CASCHEASCH,  the 

Genie,  stares  at  the  scene,  grinning.] 

FLORIMOND 

[To  BEAUTY,  raising  his  head  from  the  foot  stool. ~\ 
Thy  love  hath  saved  me. 

BEAUTY 

\_Drawing  back,  astounded,  as  the  young  Prince  rises 
beside  her.] 

Art  thou  Florimond  ? 
But  where  is  Beast  ? 

THE    STATELY    LADY 

[Approaching  them  both  with  her  silver  sickle] 

Transformed,  by  my  wand, 
To  be  himself  again. 

FLORIMOND 
Give  me  once  more 
The  frozen  rose ! 


A  LYRIC  PHANTASY  143 

BEAUTY 

[Touching  zV,  as  he  takes  it  from  her  breast.] 
I  gave  it  thee  before. 

FLORIMOND 
[Lifting  it)  transformed.] 
But  now  it  blooms  ! 

BEAUTY 

[Delightedly.'] 
Red  —  red  !  with  bright  green  leaves  ! 

FLORIMOND 

[Pointing  to  the  other  groups] 
And  lo  !  my  Court  confounds  the  Forty  Thieves ! 

THE    COURTIERS  AND    LADIES 

[Shouting  and  waving  their  scimitars  above  the  THIEVES.] 
Florimond  !   Beauty  ! 
Sultan!  Sultana! 

SINBAD 

[As  FLORIMOND  embraces  BEAUTY.] 
A  wedding!    By  Haroun!  I  like  that  tune. 

[To  the  STATELY  LADY, pointing  to  her  sickle] 
Pray  hand  me  that. 

THE    STATELY    LADY 
What  for  ? 


144  SINBAD  THE  SAILOR 

SINBAD 

A  honeymoon ! 
[  Taking  the  PEACOCK  LADY'S  band,  he  presents  her, 

salaaming  before  them.~\ 
Sultan  !  Sultana  !  Seven  voyages  I 
Have  sailed,  but  now  I  beg  one  more  to  try. 
Beseech  you,  pack  your  chests  and  put  to  sea. 
Come  !  —  I  invite  you  all  to  voyage  with  me  ! 

BEAUTY 
Oh,  Daddy,  where  ? 

SINBAD 
Upon  a  wedding  spree  ! 

[Saluting  the  assembled  Court,  SINBAD  mounts  the  chest  with 
the  PEACOCK  LADY. 

At  this  a  general  commotion  occurs  in  the  hall.  FLORIMOND 
and  BEAUTY,  attended  by  the  twelve  Dancing  Hours, 
cross  to  the  throne  chair,  behind  which  the  STATELY 
LADY  stands ;  while  the  Courtiers  release  the  FORTY 
THIEVES,  who  spring  up,  joining  the  others  in  shouts 
of  acclaim.] 

ALL 

Sinbad !  Teleme ! 

Florimond !  Beauty ! 

Sultan  !  Sultana ! 

\With  a  gesture  SINBAD  silences  them. 
During  his  song  the  FORTY  THIEVES,  assisted  now  by  the 
Courtiers  and  Ladies,  begin  to  pack  their  jars  with 


A   LYRIC  PHANTASY  145 

turbans,  veils,  and  various  articles  banded  to  them  by 
the  others. 

SINBAD,  while  he  sings,  exchanges  with  the  PEACOCK  LADY 
looks  of  gallantry  and  courtshipJ\ 

SINBAD 
Come,  voyage  with  me  on  a  wedding  spree, 

For  a  Peacock  is  my  lovely  pal  j 
To  Kilakkari  we  '11  sail,  and  marry, 

From  Kilakkari  to  Karikal ! 

ALL 

Come,  sail  to  marry,  to  marry,  to  marry, 
From  Karikal  to  Kilakkari ! 

SINBAD 
My  daughter  Beauty  has  done  her  duty, 

But  the  old  Bird  is  my  gallant  gal ; 
So  to  Kilakkari  we'll  sail,  and  marry, 

From  Kilakkari  to  Karikal ! 

ALL 

SINBAD  AND  PEACOCK  LADY.  Wirrouwoo  !  Cuckoo ! 
STATELY  LADY.  Beauty  !  Beauty  ! 

FLORIMOND  AND  BEAUTY.         I  love  thee  true  ! 
CASCHEASCH.  We  Ve  done  our  duty  ! 

TOGETHER.  So  we  're  off  to  marry,  to 

marry,  to  marry, 
From  Karikal  to  Kilak 
kari  ! 


146  SINBAD   THE  SAILOR 

\While  the  Chorus  is  singing,  a  soft,  silting  snow  begins  to 
fall  in  the  foreground,  forming  a  filmy  white  curtain, 
which  grows  denser  and  denser,  gradually  concealing  the 
festive  hall,  where  the  merry  singing  and  music  sound 
fainter  and  fainter  as  the  Theatre  Curtain  falls  ^ 


FINIS 


RilicrsiDc 

CAMBRIDGE  .  MASSACHUSETTS 
U    .    S    .  A 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


MAY  2    1962 


Form  L9-20m-9,'61(C3i06s4)444 


I'iijfc,   JL 

OF  CALIttW*U 
JLOS  ANGELES 


_ 

Sin bad,   the 
Ml9sisailor_ 


000253450 


PS 
3525 


